Board approves $17,326 net change order for wastewater plant skylights; several water and sewer projects move to bid

The Crown Point Board of Public Works and Safety on March 5 approved change order No. 11 that results in a net contract increase of $17,326 to address skylight work at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Mayor Peter D. Lane brought the motion; the board voted in favor without recorded opposition.

The change order covers skylight installation costs and a credit tied to a structural engineering inspection. Al, a city staff member who presented the utility update, told the board the funds for the net increase are available within the project's construction contingency.

Al also reported progress on multiple water and sewer projects. A 24-inch water supply line has one design track complete and a preliminary engineering report (PER) on a second track; the PER is due before April 1 so the city can pursue subsidized financing. The lead service line replacement project and the downtown interceptor project have been publicly advertised, with pre-bid meetings held and bid openings anticipated March 31 and April 14, respectively. Al said April 14 is the maximum duration allowed by law for a project to be out for bid. He said the downtown interceptor construction will be financed in part by a forthcoming bond issuance that will also cover construction engineering and inspection.

Al reported the Western County lift station work is complete after a control-panel card replacement, and the Southeast wastewater treatment plant is at a near-complete preliminary design stage with final design to follow. He said collection system lift-station improvements at Greenview Place, Delaware and 129th are under design without a strict bid deadline. He also noted “hundreds of thousands of dollars” remain in unspent engineering fees from the prior contract that staff intends to reallocate to lower future costs.

The board did not request further conditions on the change order beyond the staff recommendation. No formal disputes or abstentions were recorded in the meeting minutes.

Background: Al said the existing wastewater treatment plant project is essentially complete but required additional repairs discovered during construction, one of which prompted this change order. The board’s approvals move the advertised projects toward bid opening and potential contract awards in the coming weeks and months.