Watertown City Council Approves Change Order Saving $11,835 on Calvin Park Lift Station Project

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Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council unanimously approved a change order that will save the city $11,835.85 on the Calvin Park Lift Station and Forcemain Project No. 2428.

City Engineer Justin Petersen presented Change Order No. 1 for the contract with Halme, Inc. at the council meeting, reducing the total contract price from $1,611,054.85 to $1,599,219.00.

According to city documents, the contractor proposed an alignment adjustment that reduces open-trench forcemain construction and increases bored forcemain construction. The modified plan also changes the approach path to the Wastewater Treatment Plant manhole.

The decrease in open trench construction and the changes to the forcemain path generated $70,540.85 in savings. That reduction was partially offset by a $58,705.00 cost increase for the bored construction, resulting in the net contract decrease of $11,835.85.

During the meeting, Councilman Heuer asked whether adjusting the contract price before work is completed could risk the contractor needing the funds back later. Petersen explained that material and labor quantities often change throughout construction, noting that while this specific change order locked in savings, future adjustments could still affect the overall project totals.

Councilman Peters introduced the motion to approve the change order, and Councilman Jurrens seconded it. The measure passed with unanimous support.