Timco project advances; board approves deductive change order and additional lagoon lining

The Alfalfa County board approved construction progress payments for the Timco project and a deductive change order after staff presented results of permeability testing for the project’s lagoons.

Speaker 4 reported that the water main and well field are complete, park water and sewer mains are installed, the lift station is finished, and crews are progressing north and south across the site. “The lagoons … the first round of riprap is in, and most of the piping is in,” Speaker 4 said, adding that remaining work includes slabs and final interconnections.

Staff said permeability tests showed the secondary lagoon cell did not meet requirements and recommended adding about 300 tons of bentonite to improve the liner. To reflect on-site adjustments, change order #2 reduced the length of a new access road and incorporated other quantity adjustments, producing a net deductive change of about $54,000, according to staff.

The board discussed crossing a large pipeline that runs through the property. Engineering counsel said boring under the pipeline is preferable to driving over it; lowering or relocating the pipeline could be highly costly. Speaker 4 referenced prior experience, saying such pipeline relocations can run “$300,000 to $600,000” depending on scope. Members favored avoiding above‑ground crossings where possible and agreed to table any decision that would require pipeline relocation until the board receives a written opinion from counsel and clearer cost estimates.

The motion to approve the change order and the Timco pay application carried on a roll-call vote.

Next steps: staff will (1) finalize bentonite quantities and incorporate them into contract paperwork, (2) obtain counsel’s written guidance on pipeline crossing options and costs, and (3) present any required revised quantity or routing options at a future meeting for a formal decision.