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Board approves $415,645 change order for Smilax Road lift station after buried utilities discovered
Summary
Commissioners approved Change Order No.3 for the Smilax Road lift station and forcemain project, increasing the contract by $415,645.44 to address unforeseen utilities in a railroad right-of-way; presenters said as-builts and a guided-bore system were needed and stated Amazon will pay at least part — and possibly all — of the cost.
The County approved Change Order No.3 on the Smilax Road lift station and forcemain contract after staff reported previously unidentified utilities in the railroad right-of-way required additional construction measures.
A department presenter said crews had to switch to a guided-bore system, enlarge a bore pit, install steel sheet piling to stabilize excavations, remove valves and account for potential railroad flagger time. "This change order itself is in the amount of increase of $415,645.44," the presenter said, and recommended approval. The presenter also said part of the change order will be paid by Amazon; in subsequent back-and-forth a county official stated he believed that Amazon would pay all of it. The record shows the presenters gave inconsistent characterizations about whether Amazon covers part or the full amount.
Commissioners pressed staff on whether the utility conflict should have been anticipated; staff described limitations of as-builts and said depth and undocumented changes commonly create such surprises. The board approved the change order by motion.
