Council approves $173,900 pay estimate and time extension for wastewater regionalization project

The City Council unanimously approved pay estimate No. 21 for the Wastewater Regionalization Project in the amount of $173,900 and later approved Change Order No. 3 to extend the contract time.

City Engineer Jared Griffith told the council that pay estimate No. 21 represents roughly 95% of the contract work complete and recommended payment to the contractor (the record references the payee in the packet as 'ging'/'ginger and Suns'). Griffith said the contractor has been focused on ensuring lift stations, meters and the control building communicate with one another and that punch‑list items are being addressed so the system will be ready when turned over.

On the second agenda item related to the same project, Griffith explained that Change Order No. 3 does not add contract dollars but modifies the substantial completion date. He said the previously approved extension pushed substantial completion to September, which the project will not meet, and recommended moving that date to October 25, 2024; he also discussed a later final payment date referenced in the meeting record. Griffith advised that delivery, railroad coordination and subcontractor schedules make exact timing uncertain but that current progress and weekly contractor schedules support the October date.

Council members asked whether the October date would include a full trial run and testing of equipment; Griffith confirmed the October 25 date anticipates the system will be operational and all testing completed by then. Council moved, seconded and approved both the pay estimate and the change order by unanimous voice votes.

The council did not record any additional funding authorization tied to the change order; the extension was presented as a schedule modification rather than a cost increase. The council's formalized votes were recorded during the meeting minutes; staff will continue weekly construction meetings and report back on progress.