By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
With concerns needing council approval for change orders before completing work could slow, or even halt, the Sunset Park pool project, the Elkhorn Common Council voted in favor of forming an oversight committee during its Monday night Committee of the Whole Meeting.
The new oversight committee – comprised of Mayor Brian Olson, City Administrator Sam Tapson and Public Works Manager Martin Nuss – will have the ability to authorize change orders in the event it’s something that could halt the project if it had to wait for approval at an upcoming council meeting.
According to Carter Arndt of MSA Aquatics, the contract between the architectural firm and the city states that “no work proceeds without an approved change order for that work,” though he confirmed work for change orders one and two had already been completed.
“In hindsight, and I’ll be open, if we could go back and do it all over again we probably should have just stopped construction and convened everybody to start gaining active approvals based on where we’re at today,” he said.
The Council met Monday night after concerns about change orders were raised at the Nov. 4 Council meeting. Among those change orders were additional excavation costs and a pump system for draining the pool.
With a fourth change order in the works, the contractor noted it could have a five-day impact on the project, something which Olson questioned as to why they didn’t have the change order in front of them that evening.
Arndt explained they hadn’t received all of the data at that point to verify the cost before they recommended the change order to the council.
“By all means, if we’re going to bring a change order before the city, we want to be able to say we approve of it,” he said.
Olson said the council is under the understanding that change orders come with large construction projects, though the concern is they are coming last minute due to ineffective communication.
“I understand it’s a fluid and active site, but this is a very big project for our community and we expect it to be on time,” he said. “Now, I’m hearing it’s not because of us having questions, it’s because we don’t have the paperwork. How are we going to change that.”
Arndt said it’s been very proactive, despite council beliefs, but it takes time to complete the needed dialogue. Arndt suggested better communication all around, something the contractor echoed in suggesting weekly meetings between the contractor, architect and city.
Alderman Gary Payson, Sr., said in previous work with the county, he was able to make field changes on his signature, up to $5,000. With, project stopping changes, he said he was obligated to go to the county administrator, county chairman and director of public works for approval.
Alderman agreed with Payson’s statement, voting in favor of a motion by D’Alessandro to form the oversight committee. Meetings between the entities have been designated for 9 a.m. on Mondays.
Additionally, the council voted in favor of the first two change orders, with Alderman Tom Myrin casting the only dissenting vote. As for the third change order, alderman were split, with Hoss Rehberg, Scott McClory and Tom Myrin voting against it. Gregory Huss, Payson and D’Alessandro voted in favor. Olson cast the deciding vote in favor of the change order.
