Council signs engineering amendments and greenlights electric rate study as substation work advances

Council approved a package of engineering and utility items intended to keep major infrastructure projects on schedule and to examine future rate impacts for the electric utility.

Paul of DGR Engineering explained a requested change order and a task order amendment. The change order ($16,500) covers upsized breakers and higher fault‑interrupting ratings for the Northeast Centennial Road substation to accommodate a likely future transformer upsize. "By doing this you can interrupt higher amperage," Paul said, explaining the upgrade is meant to avoid a future, more costly retrofit.

Council also approved Task Order Amendment No. 6 with DGR Engineering (lump-sum $191,000; not-to-exceed $228,000) to design and administer construction for egress circuits and underground work tied to the substation and other distribution projects. Council stipulated that staff should return for further approval if expenditures approach the not-to-exceed cap.

For the Wayne Prairie Park ball fields, Taylor of Olsson presented an amendment for rebid and construction-phase services. The council approved rebid work and construction administration, testing and staking with a construction administration cap not to exceed $75,000.

On utility finance, staff proposed a phased electric rate study (initial phase ~$6,500) to update rates unchanged since 2019 and to develop an interruptible/commercial rate for economic-development customers. Staff noted the city is paying for large capital projects, including the substation, and that updated rate recommendations will reflect bond or cash decisions related to those projects.

Council recorded the approvals and asked staff to monitor costs closely and return for additional authorization if necessary.