Cowlitz County approves $229,750 change order for South Cloverdale Road after utility delays

Cowlitz County commissioners voted to approve change order number six for the South Cloverdale Road/Confer Road intersection project to cover unplanned traffic‑control costs after utility relocations extended far beyond the originally scheduled work window.

County Engineer Susan Eugenus told the board that utilities were given an initial four‑week window to relocate lines but the work extended to roughly 39 weeks. "The change order is to pay for the contractor's traffic control that he was required to have out there beyond those initial four weeks," Eugenus said, identifying the requested additional amount as $229,750.23 to reconcile extended traffic‑control and related expenses. She said most utilities have now cleared the work area, but a few outstanding crossings remain on the project's critical path.

Commissioners expressed frustration that the extended utility work shifted costs onto county contracting, noting that contractors adhere to bid schedules and that the county may have limited ability to recoup those added expenses from utility providers. Eugenus explained that utilities operate under franchise rights and, "the way our franchises and the utility code is set up, we don't have that firmly enough written that we'd win a court," meaning the county currently lacks a straightforward legal remedy to compel timely relocations or penalties.

During discussion, a commissioner asked whether traffic control was a 24‑hour requirement during the extension; staff confirmed it was, and described the contractor's obligations to provide rented traffic control equipment and periodic checks by a traffic‑control specialist. Commissioners noted that rejecting the change order could expose the county to contractor claims or litigation because the contractor performed work and the contract terms require payment for approved change orders.

An online commenter suggested forming a citizen‑utility review committee and consulting the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to strengthen oversight. Commissioners said they are working on franchise and code changes intended to add enforcement teeth and reduce the likelihood of similar costs shifting to taxpayers in the future.

The board approved the change order. The transcript does not record a roll‑call vote or list the motion mover by name; the action was recorded as passed in the meeting minutes. The county staff said they expect to present proposed franchise or code changes in coming months to address the identified enforcement gaps.