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Council orders fence‑replacement path after drainage contractor flags failing rear fences
Summary
As construction began on Legends of Hutto drainage improvements, staff and consultants warned that existing rear fences would likely fail when walls are excavated; council authorized replacing impacted fences with steel posts through change order after funds are certified.
City staff and the designer flagged an unanticipated constructability issue in the Legends of Hutto drainage project: many rear-yard fences sit either within the city easement or close enough to be destabilized by excavation for the concrete channel and retaining walls.
Kate Moriarty, administrative services director, summarized options including bidding fence replacement as part of the project or directing the contractor to do removals and replacements as change orders. The engineering firm noted the contractor's signed contract places responsibility on the contractor for fences affected by construction; one consultant added that some fence footings are within the easement and would have to be cut to install the proposed wall. The contractor provided a ballpark price "right under $300,000" to remove, temporarily fence and permanently reinstall impacted fences for the affected stretch.
Council discussed fairness to homeowners and staff acknowledged the city's survey scope did not catch every post at design time; members said the city should not leave residents with damaged fences. The council authorized the city manager to execute a change order for fence replacement using steel posts after funds are certified; the motion passed 7–0.
