Smithville aldermen direct staff to pursue CMAR for wastewater expansion and hire owner's representative for park

The Smithville Board of Aldermen on Jan. 20 directed staff to pursue alternative project delivery methods for two major city projects: a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) approach for the wastewater treatment plant expansion and retention of an owner's representative for Smith's Fork Park. Public Works Director Chuck Soules presented the recommendations and the Board signaled unanimous support.

Soules told the Board staff has seen recurring contractor delays, limited capacity among low-bid contractors, and unforeseen site conditions under the traditional design-bid-build model. He recommended using CMAR for the wastewater project so an engineer completes partial design, a construction manager is selected early to collaborate on design, and individual work packages are later bid with a guaranteed maximum price intended to shift more construction risk to the contractor and reduce unexpected cost increases.

Staff emphasized that early contractor involvement should allow better coordination on constructability, earlier procurement of long-lead equipment such as generators and pumps, and fewer change orders. The Board noted that recent work at the water treatment plant had exposed hidden conditions and said the CMAR approach could help anticipate and address similar risks earlier.

For Smith's Fork Park, staff recommended hiring an owner's representative to provide independent expertise on cost estimating, scheduling, constructability and procurement. Staff said no current employees have direct experience managing a large sports-complex project and an owner's representative would help evaluate delivery options — including CMAR, design-build, or turnkey approaches — while protecting the city's interests.

Board members broadly supported the recommendations as consistent with best practices for complex projects and directed staff to move forward with the alternative delivery approaches; staff will return with future formal actions to implement the selected methods.

The Board did not adopt any contract or select a specific firm at the session; the direction authorized staff to proceed with procurement planning and report back with formal agenda items for approval.