County staff propose change order to add three miles to 2025 asphalt maintenance while remaining within approved budget

Matt Oler, project manager, briefed the Board of County Commissioners Aug. 13 on a proposed change order to the 2025 Asphalt Corrective Maintenance Program (Project No. 2407STCO702) that would extend work on 220 Third Street and add additional mill/overlay and patching work without asking for new budget dollars.
Oler said the original contract with Superior Bowen covered two primary segments and carried a contract price of $3,481,694.35. The commission approved a project budget of $5,307,888 in November; Oler described the change order package as a way to spend remaining unencumbered funds rather than request new appropriations. The change items (change orders 1–2 plus additional line items) increase the contract by $1,795,681.29, bringing the contract total to $5,277,375.64, Oler said.
Under the proposal the county would add about three miles on 220 Third Street (Metcalfe to State Line) as a base reclamation project with a 2‑inch mill and overlay and include additional patching, mobilization, traffic control and pavement markings. Oler emphasized the work is not a widening; ditch sections and lateral slope issues would remain. He also said the contractor insisted the additional work fit the existing construction schedule and that no additional working days would be added.
Several landowners in the corridor spoke with county staff before the meeting; Oler said staff addressed access and harvest‑season concerns by phasing the work and coordinating with landowners so local access is maintained. One landowner asked that the contractor block only one farm exit at a time during harvest; Oler said local traffic would be allowed through each phase and he would verify access sequencing with the contractor.
Commissioners asked whether the change order uses available budget dollars and whether the county could be required to return later for additional funds if construction engineer (CE) fees rise; Oler said the county would not exceed the $5,307,888 allocation and that if CE costs rose staff would reduce patching scope on the added miles to remain within the budget.
No formal vote on the change order was recorded at the study session; Oler said the change order documents were provided in the commissioners’ packet and that the item would return on the commission’s agenda for action. He also noted Superior Bowen had given a competitive bid that created the unencumbered funds now proposed to be used for additional work.