Gulf Shores City Council Reviews Project Updates and Costs
John Mullen • May 20, 2024
Volkert Engineering Contract Reaches $5 Million
Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – A master agreement with Volkert for engineering and design services for several city projects is still open, but the company wishes to close some of those task orders related to those projects. The total original contract to Volkert for the work was $3.7 million, but cost overruns have raised it to $5 million.
Some of the task orders have had special requests attached to them, so several are still open.
Here are the actions the city council will discuss during a May 20 work session at city hall at 4 pm:
- Environmental Documentation is to be closed with a supplemental request for an additional $38,501.14 to cover final expenses due to cost overruns.
- Medical Village Access Phase 1A is to be closed with a savings to the city of$14,281.53
- Medical Village Access Phase 1B is to be closed with a supplemental request for an additional $10,638.52
- Pedestrian Bridge Master Plan is to be closed with a savings to the city of $44,864.02
- Pedestrian Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway project remains open. There has been a $447,306.86 cost overrun to this point.
- State Route 59 widening and access is remaining open with a supplemental request for an additional $291,300. The additional cost is to cover the final design, submit to ALDOT and address final comments as well as coordinate with ALDOT. This amendment does not include any efforts to finalize the north section or County Road 6 to County Road 8.
- Program Management Services is being closed with a savings to the city of $94,835.06.
- Medical Village Surveys are being closed out.
- Construction Engineering & Inspection (CE&I) services for Phase 1 of the State Route 59 widening project did not include construction materials testing services for Volkert’s sub-consultant (Terracon Inc.). This supplemental request will include the cost for geotechnical engineering services, material testing, concrete strength testing, asphalt testing, etc. as required by ALDOT specifications. Volkert will oversee and manage Terracon activities throughout the duration of the project. The cost of these services is $150,418.
- During the work session, the council will discuss:
- Filling open or soon-to-expire seats on the Airport Board and Bicycle and Pedestrian Board. Councilman Joe Garris and Craig Olmstead’s terms on the Airport Board expire on June 1 and both would like to be reappointed. Deputy Police Chief Dan Netemeyer will fill former police Sgt. Josh Coleman’s seat on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Board since he no longer works for the city. Kerry Dey’s term on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Board expires on June 22 and she wants to be reappointed.
- Two work orders for the ongoing construction at the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability including adding a lower level to the aerial adventure course costing $150,000. The second change in the project includes 35 items that have been reduced or eliminated, saving the city $81,308. The total cost to the city will be $68,692. It is an $11.4 million project funded with RESTORE Act money.
- Accepting maintenance of streets in phase one of the Raley Farms subdivision one. These include a portion of Preston Way, Abigail St. and Fuller St. The subdivision was completed in 2021 and the developers have to wait two years and have 50 percent occupancy for the city to take over.
- Awarding the bid for streets repaving in 2024 to Asphalt Services for $820,000. Twelve city streets will be repaved under this program.
- Authorizing contracts with NeoGov for human resource software and Tyler Technology for financial software. NeoGov’s contract is for 31 months and will cost the city $169,427. Tyler’s contract is for one year and will cost the city $34,676.
- Awarding the bid to Vital Exams for physicals for employees for $600 per employee. So far, 117 have signed up for physicals.
- Buying a generator for Fire Station No. 2 for $63,695 including mounting it to a trailer.
- An annexation request from Alberto Lopez for his lot at 5524 County Road 6. It currently has a mobile home on it and the stated reason for coming into the city is to attend city schools.
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