Several city projects received further funding last week as commissioners responded to changes.
A massive alteration in the State Road 39 Utility Extension Project was approved by commissioners last week.
The project, which had its contract approved with Dallas 1 Construction & Development on April 13, 2020, is currently 80 percent complete. During the construction Dallas 1 “encountered unforeseen field conditions,” which led to City Manager Bill McDaniel authorizing Change Order No. 1 on Feb. 24, 2021. Part of this order involved an “exploratory investigation of an obstruction that caused the jack and bore installation of both force mains to fail at Trapnell Road.”
Completing the investigation cost $11,820.90, which was a 50/50 cost share between the city and Dallas 1. Lo and behold, the investigation discovered the obstruction was soil cement. The change order that was approved last week — Change Order No. 2 — will address that issue by “utilizing the open cut method to install both force mains across Trapnell Road. As the original contract did not specify the open cut method, restoration of an open cut to State Road 39, and the maintenance of traffic required to close the road, are now required.”
The costs that are going to be required with Change Order No. 2 are:
1. $12,530.00 for the open cut installation of both force mains across Trapnell Road.
2. $16,940.00 for the open cut installation of the water main across Trapnell Road.
3. $25,470.00 for the cost of restoring State Road 39.
4. $27,904.00 allowance for the storm system that may be impacted by the open cut installation
The total cost of Change Order No. 2, including allowances, is $82,844 and the money is available in the Water/Sewer Fund.
Commissioners also agreed to finish the walking trail illumination at Ellis-Methvin Park. The parking lots and some of the paved walkways in the park received lighting in 2014. The city said the walkway around the pond and the perimeter walkway around the complex have become quite popular over the past few years and the eastern portion was not originally illuminated. Due to the high usage of the area, lighting is budgeted for the unlit sections, which will complete the illumination of the entire 0.9 mile loop.
Materials for this project can be purchased from Synergy Lighting, Inc. via piggyback of the School District of Manatee County contract for $47,725.91. Installation of the materials can be performed by Synergy Lighting, Inc. via piggyback of the School District of Manatee County contract for $41,008.40. The Procurement Division reviewed the contracts and said this is the most advantageous method to complete the project, which brings the total cost to $88,734.31.
An unexpected repair was presented to commissioners last week as well. McDaniel needed approval for his remediation to damage to the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center.
On July 20 around 6:30 p.m. a motorist suffered a medical emergency, drove through the parking lot, through the flag rotunda and up onto the sidewalk. It destroyed the aluminum walkway on the west side of the community center. In the “urgency of preventing any injuries” McDaniel had staff immediately clean up the area. Trias Construction, the company that built the community center, was contacted to remove everything for a cost of $8,440. McDaniel said they also want to have Trias do the repairs since they built the original product and are the most familiar with the design.
Estimates are upward of $100,000 to make the repairs for the massive aluminum covering/walkway, according to McDaniel. He added the city does have insurance that has a $25,000 deductible. If the motorist is insured the city will attempt to attach that as well, but the rest will need to come from city funds.
