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Atlantic County approves $181,519 change order for Lake Lenape dam work after concrete-cost escalation
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Summary
The Board approved change order No. 3 to the South State Inc. contract for the Lake Lenape Dam and Spillway project, adding $181,519.70; county staff said a delay in a linked phase and in-water work restrictions led to a substantial increase in concrete costs and justified the change order.
The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners approved change order number 3 for the Lake Lenape Dam and Spillway contract with South State Incorporated, showing a net increase of $181,519.70.
County project staff explained that the increase was driven by a project delay caused by late delivery of sluice gates and required sequencing: the powerhouse rehabilitation (phase 1) had to be completed before the spillway contractor could begin in-water work. That delay pushed the schedule into a time window where in-water work restrictions and material-price escalation (notably concrete) materially increased costs. A county project lead said the concrete escalation alone added roughly $220,000 in cost pressure across the project and that the additional payment to the contractor was justified because the delay was not the contractor's fault.
Commissioners noted the technical complexity of dam work and commended the contractor and county staff for navigating a difficult project. The chair called the roll and the change order was adopted.
The board did not identify additional pending change orders for the project during the discussion; staff indicated they did not expect further changes but did not rule out minor adjustments.

