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Engineers present negotiated fix for downtown parking‑lot grate; commissioners press contractor accountability
Summary
LaBella Associates proposed replacing an 8th Avenue driveway grate and apron to meet standard slope and drainage; commissioners said the town paid for a turnkey lot and expected the contractor and engineer to resolve the defect without additional town expense, while LaBella said negotiations with the contractor were ongoing.
LaBella Associates engineers presented options to correct a steep apron at the downtown 8th Avenue parking lot that resulted from a contractor substitution of a driveway grate. Bonnie Fisher said replacing the curb with a valley‑roll curb and switching grates would reduce the apron slope below the 10% standard and satisfy drainage needs. Danny Watson said detailed calculations indicate the contractor’s substitution created an overly sharp profile and that he was negotiating with the contractor on pricing for each grate.
LaBella showed a net Change Order #4 cost of $4,974.75 after identifying $9,898 in project savings to offset a $14,872.75 proposed replacement cost. Commissioners Atkinson, Helms and Kincaid argued that the town paid for a turnkey parking lot and that a defect at a tie‑in should be addressed between LaBella and the contractor without burdening taxpayers. Town Attorney Karen Wolter cited the bid manual language requiring smooth tie‑ins and advised the board that the town is not responsible for costs attributable to contractor installation errors.
LaBella characterized the Change Order as a status update and said negotiations remain open with the contractor. The board did not approve an immediate, additional payment for the work and asked staff and LaBella to continue negotiations to avoid additional town cost.
