County engineer seeks $28,525 change order for Barnes Drive emergency repair

Susan Eugenis, Cowlitz County engineer, told commissioners that change order number one for the Barnes Drive emergency-repair contract corrects two bid-item math errors and adds debris removal work ordered by Washington Fish and Wildlife. Corrections raised roadway-excavation pay to add $15,400 and crushed-surfacing base-course pay by $975; Fish and Wildlife-directed creek debris removal added $12,150, for a change-order total of $28,525 and a revised contract amount of $674,850.

Eugenis said the roadway collapsed north of Castle Rock during a storm and crews installed a 60-inch overflow pipe as part of the repair. She explained that unit-price contracts require the unit price to prevail when arithmetic in the bidder's summary doesn't match unit-price multiplication, and that the county had estimated quantities roughly during emergency response work. "Somebody along the line did a miscalculation in the math," Eugenis said, adding that contract closeout estimates suggest the final contract cost will likely be closer to about $450,000 once actual quantities are reconciled.

Commissioners asked for clarification on the error and the additional debris removal work; Eugenis said the extra removal occurred after contractors found more asphalt and material in the creek and that Fish and Wildlife directed that work. The commission moved and approved the change order.

Next steps: staff will finalize the contract closeout and return with final costs when quantities are reconciled.