Council approves $25,946 change order to replace fairground culvert after utility conflicts

The City Council voted to authorize the city manager to sign Change Order No.1 with Sam Gaines Construction LLC for the Lakeview Lake (fairground) culvert replacement project at a total additional cost of $25,946.16.

Public works staff explained that during final planning the project encountered two unanticipated utility conflicts — the city’s sanitary sewer and a natural-gas line — and engaged Bartlett & West to redesign the culvert. The redesign reduced the culvert height from 7 feet to 5 feet and widened it from 8 feet to 10 feet, increasing concrete volume and wall thickness. Precaster/Precast provided revised pricing that staff said amounted to a nearly $26,000 increase.

"The culvert does have over 80% more concrete in it now," a public works presenter said, and staff recommended proceeding because the culvert is in failed condition and carries truck traffic.

Staff told the council the Department of Natural Resources confirmed the project would be eligible for the grant associated with the award, but that the total cost may exceed the grant maximum; labor to install the culvert was not included in the quoted change-order price and staff said additional labor costs may be presented later.

Council moved, seconded and recorded affirmative votes to pass the resolution authorizing execution of Change Order No.1. The resolution was read and passed as presented.

What happens next: staff will return if additional labor-cost increases are discovered and will coordinate grant accounting with DNR as needed.