Council hears progress on Clermont Drive, Lamar extension and Kirkpatrick change order

Public‑works staff briefed council on several transportation projects that the council prioritized at last year’s retreat.

Clermont Drive: staff said the project is being designed as a four‑lane divided arterial of about 1.5 miles and is at roughly 30% design completion; design is scheduled to complete in February 2027. Staff said construction timing will depend on partners and right‑of‑way negotiations as the western portions fall into county jurisdiction.

Lamar extension: staff said the half‑mile Lamar connector is in right‑of‑way acquisition; three property owners have been identified and negotiations are underway. The project is at 60% plans with a target to begin right‑of‑way work in August and remain on budget.

Kirkpatrick Drive: staff reported the contract was awarded to Gilco but the contractor identified a discrepancies in quantities that require a change order of about $237,000. Staff said the change order keeps the project under the $3 million allocation and that some excavated material could be reused for the fire‑station fill to reduce costs.

Council asked staff about annexation impacts, construction timing, signal needs and the risk of extending roads before annexation. Staff cautioned that extending infrastructure into unincorporated areas before annexation can create taxpayer subsidy without municipal tax or regulatory benefit.