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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – JANUARY 13, 2020 4 <br />Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom stated he understood the concerns <br />regarding change orders. He explained change orders were almost always adding or changing a <br />contract because of something that was discovered during construction. He indicated a rare <br />exception was for density incentives for bituminous paving. He discussed the density <br />specifications required by MnDOT and noted if a contractor was able to meet a certain density <br />within its paving the contractor was eligible for an incentive. He reported the proposed Change <br />Order would adjust the payment amount in order to pay the contractor for the City’s portion of the <br />density incentive. <br />Councilmember Holden asked why the City had to pay for temporary facilities for MnDOT <br />projects. <br />Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom commented on the table he <br />completed for the change orders noting a history of the change orders was provided for the City <br />Council. He explained Change Order 3 related to the replacement of a City watermain. He noted <br />the replacement of a City watermain and the necessary temporary facilities were the responsibility <br />of the City and not MnDOT. <br />Councilmember Holden encouraged staff not to minimize the percentage or expense of change <br />orders because real money from the City was being spent. <br />Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom explained he was not trying to <br />minimize the amount being spent but rather was working to show the Council how the project was <br />performing in terms of change orders compared to the original contract amount. <br />MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember McClung seconded a <br />motion to approve Change Order No. 5 for the Trunk Highway 10 Watermain <br />Improvement Project. The motion carried (5-0). <br />C. Motion to Approve Payment No. 9 and Change Order Nos. 6 and 7 – Sunram <br />Construction – Old Snelling Trail and Watermain Improvement Project <br />Councilmember Holmes expressed concern regarding change orders. She discussed Change <br />Order 6 and asked why an additional 21 storm sewer catch basins were needed. <br />Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom stated that while the project pre- <br />dates him, the number of catch basins are determined based on the volume of runoff and grade of <br />the roadway. He noted trench drains were originally planned for this project but after further <br />considering the expense for trench drains, the project substituted storm sewer catch basins. He <br />noted it was more work for the contractor to install curb while placing the 21 catch basins than the <br />originally planned trench basins. <br />Councilmember Holmes requested further information on Payment No. 9. She stated she <br />understood there were problems with this project, but she did not want the City paying any more <br />money than was necessary.