Change order increases construction project costs

      The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted 5-0 in favor of a change order for the 2021 Elkhorn Street Program construction project at its meeting Monday night.

      Alderman Ron Dunwiddie was absent from Monday’s meeting.

      According to a memo provided to the council in its packet, the change order calls for an increase of $86,434.27 to the original contract price of $2.96 million, bringing the total closer to $3.05 million.

      The memo notes the several changes to the street project, including relocating 12-inch, 18-inc and 24-inch flared end sections in various locations, cutting down a pair of inlets to achieve the planned rim grade, coring a new hole into one of the inlets to allow connection of a culvert from a nearby driveway, switching to 1.25-inch HDPE water services where needed in the Pines Subdivision and a price reduction in drain basin work, thanks to less expensive parts and pieces.

      Department of Public Works Operations Manager Matt Lindstrom spoke specifically to the 1.25-inch HDPE water services, noting that 1-inch was originally planned for the project.

      According to Lindstrom, some of the existing surfaces were already 1.25-inches in diameter, and as such, crews ended up needing to use 1.25-inch, which cost $3 more per lineal foot, translating to an increase of a little more than $2,200.

      City Engineer Mike Timmers said overall, however, the total cost for that part of the project is less as they didn’t need as much in terms of quantity.

      “It looks like an addition, but it’s not an addition,” he said. “It’s actually less than the plan, but we had to show it in the change order so that we can pay them.”

      The council voted 5-0 in favor of approving the change order.

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