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Board approves contract change orders after questioning of Carroll Park and Highway 16 contingencies
Summary
Board members pressed staff on why Carroll Park and Highway 16 change orders appear to draw contingency funds and asked finance to better document deductions; staff said contingency had been used for necessary site changes and the board approved the change orders unanimously.
Board members asked detailed questions about three construction change orders on the agenda — La Crosse Public Library furniture, Carroll Park improvements, and the Highway 16 water transmission main south — focusing on how contingency funds were being used and whether the paper record shows deductions and remaining contingency.
A council member asked for specifics on Carroll Park costs, noting the project appeared to be over bid. A staff member said the project used contingency funds to address site-specific issues tied to the building’s placement on a landfill and to make the site ADA compliant, including additional concrete work and railings. “We had to shift some items…If the weather cooperates, it should be done here in the next 4 to 6 weeks,” staff said.
On the library furniture contract the contract figures read into the record were $75,539 with a $9,461 contingency; the board was told the change order represents the first and final adjustment to that contract. For Highway 16, a board member read contract figures into the record as $5,174,219.92 for the contract and $776,132.98 for the contingency. Staff explained the meeting’s presented net additions (reported in the meeting as roughly $20,000) would be drawn from the contingency, leaving an estimated remaining contingency of about $756,000. The board asked staff to work with finance to make the form clearer so it shows both deductions and remaining contingency amounts to preserve an audit trail.
After discussion, director Train moved to approve the change orders; director Gallagher seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the change orders.
