Benzie County awards $7.35 million contract for Point Betsie shoreline protection; engineering contract assigned to Barr Engineering
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Summary
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners awarded Walton Contracting a $7,354,875.50 contract for the Point Betsie Light Station Shoreline Protection System, approved change orders that reduce scope and add $611,000 in engineering services, and assigned the contract to Barr Engineering Michigan LLC with reimbursement expected from the Friends of Point Betsie.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 9 awarded the Point Betsie Light Station Shoreline Protection System construction contract to Walton Contracting for $7,354,875.50 and approved related change orders and engineering assignments.
The board approved Change Order 01, which reduces the project scope on the north side of the property and lowers the contract price by $1,471,487.50. Separately, the board approved Change Order 8, adding $611,000 for design and construction‑engineering services, and assigned those construction‑engineering services to Barr Engineering Michigan LLC. County staff said funds are available in the Point Betsie Fund and will be reimbursed by the Friends of Point Betsie.
County staff and project representatives — including Chuck Clarke, Ed Hoogterp and Peter Hinck — described the revisions to the north‑side scope and the engineering assignment during the meeting. The motion to accept the July 2, 2025 bid package, award the contract to Walton Contracting, approve the change orders and assign the engineering contract to Barr Engineering carried unanimously on roll call.
The board did not identify a revised overall project completion date in the meeting minutes. The meeting record notes only the contract award amounts, the scope reduction on the north side, the $611,000 engineering change order and the source of funds (Point Betsie Fund with reimbursement from the Friends of Point Betsie).
Next steps noted in the meeting record: assignment of the construction‑engineering contract to Barr Engineering Michigan LLC and continued project oversight; the board voted to approve the contract, change orders and assignment during the Dec. 9 meeting.