Committee authorizes increase in construction-administration cap for High Point Pass project to $225,000

The Germantown Public Works/Highways Committee unanimously authorized staff to increase the construction-administration services agreement for the High Point Pass project with R.A. Smith to a not-to-exceed total of $225,000.

Staff told the committee the project has encountered roughly 10 change orders, largely related to geotechnical conditions and storm-sewer redesign and rerouting. The project was part of a development-agreement schedule that required a short construction window; staff said the compressed schedule and late changes by property owners increased on-site administration and inspection time.

An engineering staff member said the originally approved construction-administration amount was about $174,000 and that the requested ceiling is intended to cover remaining inspection and administration through project closeout. Staff also said the overall construction cost remains under the approved budget by roughly $50,000 after combining contracts, though additional consultant time was required.

Committee members pressed whether developers who changed plans late in the process should share additional costs. Staff said some developer-related changes complicated the work and that staff could explore cost-sharing, but that final resolution rests with contracting and the specific agreements. Members also discussed that compressed design-to-construction timelines increase field changes and inspection burden.

The committee moved, seconded and approved the authorization to increase the R.A. Smith contract cap to $225,000. Staff said the work is funded from the applicable TID and project budgets and that completing the project now will avoid further schedule risk.