Butler city council gives mayor power to sign off on smaller change orders
With numerous ongoing projects across the city, its representatives have granted the mayor the power to sign off on change orders if the cost is below $25,000.
Butler City Council voted 4-0 Thursday, Nov. 6, to grant the mayor’s office the power to sign off on change orders up to $25,000 without council approval. If the director of finance also signs off, a change order of up to $50,000 can be approved.
“Time is money, and (contractors) are sitting there waiting for permission to go ahead and change something that is absolutely needed. If you don’t do it, it’s going to fall down. We can’t wait two weeks if something happens right after a council meeting or something like that,” Mayor Bob Dandoy explained to council.
Before the vote, Dandoy reassured council about the extension of power as change orders only come at the recommendation of the city engineer. He also told council that he has and will continue to consult zoning officer John Evans at every change order, regardless of dollar amount.
The power was granted Thursday just after a vote for a change order to the Butler City Farmers’ Market, which totaled $65,562 — an amount that would have required a vote regardless.
“With the construction, they went down into the ground when they started doing the parking lot and found a lot of deficiencies with the pipes. There were some water leaks, and all kinds of problems there,” Dandoy said.
Councilman Don Shearer, the director of finance, was absent and did not vote on either motion.
