Contractor and engineer delays stall Palatka streetscape; city pursues contract remedies

City staff told the CRA that the downtown streetscape project has run into delays because the contracted engineer has been difficult to reach and has not produced the hard cost figures needed for change orders.

The city manager said contractors and the engineer (identified in the record as "Heirs") failed to provide timely cost estimates and, until the city receives those numbers, it cannot execute the necessary change orders. "We can't move any further with this until we get a hard numbers on what the change order... is going to be," the city manager said.

Public works and the project manager described technical issues uncovered during construction, including electrical wires of incorrect gauge that could require new conduit and directional drilling, which would raise costs. Staff said they had finally obtained CAD files this week and scheduled a meeting with the engineer to press for answers; they also discussed pursuing contract performance clauses if the engineer and contractor continue to be nonresponsive.

Downtown merchants told officials that some businesses reported sales declines and requested clearer communication about construction timing and mitigation steps. Commissioners asked staff to provide a clearer dashboard of project transfers and to use contract remedies where warranted. City staff said they will report back after the scheduled meeting with the engineer and will pursue contractual enforcement if necessary.