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Council told turbine/solar contract will exceed original by change orders; staff to present orders to council
Summary
Staff reported change orders for a wind/solar project that raise the contract to about $156,774.58 (including pass-throughs); staff said the foundation work drove the largest increase and that related pass-through wiring and meter work will be presented to council next Monday.
Staff briefed the council on change orders and follow-up steps for the city's turbine/solar project, saying the work to date has pushed the contract value above the original amount and that formal change orders will be brought to the city council for approval.
Director said the city will present two primary change orders tied to the project: one addressing foundation issues at the turbine and another covering substation and wiring work that was treated as a pass-through. "The solar work is a little over $40,000," the Director said, and the IVA meter work "is a little over $7,000." He summarized the combined effect as a contract that will be "over a $156,774.58," and added that excluding the foundation work the increase equates to about 2.8% above the original contract price.
The director said the larger foundation change—roughly $114,000—stems from soils and foundation adjustments that were not included in the original bid. He explained the pass-through wiring costs resulted from factory wiring that had not been completed at shipment and required local electrical contractor work. "So it's just the pass through for the city on that front," he said, describing the mechanism by which the city processes the additional vendor invoices.
Staff said Unit 14 is operational and the city expects to receive payments from the regional market (IMEA) beginning June 1, but that final export testing has been delayed by communication and polarity issues with the utility metering point (Ameren). The director told the council he hopes the metering and polarity issues will be resolved this week so the city can conduct testing without incurring fuel-side costs.
The city has not yet taken final council action on the change orders. Staff said the items will be presented at the next council meeting so members can consider contract pay estimates and finalize approvals. No vote on the orders occurred during the reported meeting.
Next steps listed by staff include presenting the two change orders and pass-through invoices to the full council for formal consideration and completing export testing once Ameren/IMEA communication issues are resolved.
