Board trims Live Oak Drive renovation to an overlay, approves $292,270 change order plus contingency

The Liberty County Board of Commissioners approved a change order March 3 to reduce the Live Oak Drive renovation scope to an overlay, lowering the county’s immediate outlay to $292,270 plus a 10% contingency.

Mr. Long told the board that the lowest renovation bid reported during the meeting was roughly $2 million, a figure that included major utility relocations that would have depleted Commissioner Frazier’s SPLOST funds. To preserve funding across districts, staff presented an option to remove curb, gutter and sidewalk work and limit the contract to an overlay, which reduced the contractor‑paid items to approximately $292,270.

Commissioner Frazier said he appreciated colleagues’ help on the project and noted his desire to spread sidewalk and pedestrian improvements across the district rather than concentrating SPLOST funds in a single project. Commissioners discussed which portions of Bill Moore and Bill Moore/Trinity lie inside city limits and the practical implications of paving former city street segments.

The board approved the revised contract amount and the added 10% contingency by show of hands. Staff said contract documents would be prepared the following week, contractors would have 10 business days to return executed documents, and a pre‑construction conference was expected in early April.

The approval preserves county funds and allows a quicker, lower‑cost improvement for Live Oak Drive while leaving open the possibility of future sidewalk work if additional funding is found.