Council approves $59,700 change order and deadline extension for 2nd Street waterline project

City Engineer Philip Bowman told the council that Change Order No. 2 for the 2nd Street waterline replacement addresses additional field quantities the original bid did not fully capture.

Bowman said the original contract award was $1,651,000; a previously approved change order raised the total to about $1,696,000. This second change order increases the contract by $59,700, bringing the contract value to approximately $1,756,000. The work items cited included additional buried-utility mapping discovered during excavation, extra asphalt removal and patching, and waste-haul/backfill quantities.

Bowman said the additional mapping will leave the city with more accurate utility crossing documentation, a benefit for future repairs. He proposed extending the substantial-completion date from Oct. 31, 2025, to Jan. 30, 2026, and final completion to Feb. 27, 2026, citing weather-related delays and final punch-list work.

Council members pressed on whether the change orders were the result of underbidding or normal field variance. Bowman said the original design quantities were based on the best available data but that buried utilities are often located outside the narrow windows identified in preconstruction markings, creating unavoidable additional work once crews excavate.

After questions and clarification, Council Member Lang moved to approve the change order and pay application so the city could pay the outstanding invoice; the council approved the motion by voice vote.

The change order allows the city to pay the most recent pay application and formally adjusts contract dates and quantities as the project moves toward final completion.