By JOEL PHELPS | The Arkadelphian

Arkadelphia city directors approved a change order for a drainage project on Caddo Street, bringing the cost to $90,353 more than what was initially approved.

The city board Tuesday OK’d a second change order in the amount of $45,537 on the project, which was originally set to cost $557,000. A first change order of $54,537 was approved in June after engineers discovered the project’s slope to conflict with an underground water supply line.

There was little discussion about the change order once City Manager Gary Brinkley explained to directors what engineers told him about lowering a water supply line to allow the upsized drainage pipe to be installed. Mayor Scott Byrd said he has received numerous calls about the project, and that he was ready to see the project finished. The motion carried unanimously.

New Arkadelphia water, sewer rates

Directors also passed the first of three readings on a pair of ordinances setting new water and sewer rates. The second reading will be considered at the next board meeting.

Engineers given green light for smaller work orders

Crist Engineers now has the ability to perform a multitude of tasks without prior approval from the city board, which approved a task order allowing Crist to work for the city and charge an hourly rate. Brinkley called it a “mechanism” to pay the firm for “smaller tasks and incidentals” when the city needs their services.

Byrd asked if there would be a limit to the amount the firm could charge; Brinkley said the firm mostly performs preliminary engineering work that doesn’t exceed the $25,000 cap the city manager has before asking for board approval.

Utilities manager David Green said the firm typically aids the city by calculating water and wastewater capabilities requested by prospective industries wanting information.