Butner authorizes $36,700 change order, $21,710 Powell Bill amendment for C Street sidewalks

The Butner council voted to authorize additional engineering and preconstruction work on the C Street sidewalk project and to amend the project budget to cover the expense.

Town manager Jordan told the council the Stevens Group is at 60% design and DOT review is pending. With an estimated total cost just under $2.3 million, the council agreed to divide the work into three phases to match available funds and grant opportunities. Jordan recommended a change order with Timmons Group totaling $36,700 to prepare easement plats, complete limited environmental work and perform traffic counts (particularly on 24th Street), and a budget amendment of $21,710 from Powell Bill funds to cover that work.

"When we get approval back from DOT, that is when we'll be at the step to prepare plats for easements. We did get a total cost of 2,300,000, just under 2,300,000 for the entire sidewalk," Jordan said, describing the phasing and next steps.

Council asked whether the easement plats covered all phases (Jordan said plats were proposed for phases 1 and 2 to allow movement to phase 2 if easement acquisition issues arise in phase 1) and whether the Powell Bill would be the source for the amendment (Jordan said yes). The council approved the change order, the budget amendment and the project ordinance update by voice vote.

The project team will begin easement acquisition once plats are prepared and DOT approvals are received; staff said they will pursue grants for later phases and may accelerate phase 2 if acquisition issues delay phase 1.