Apple Valley approves sewer change order after unlocated utilities and high water table drive up costs

Apple Valley approves sewer change order after unlocated utilities and high water table drive up costsThe City Council signed off on a $27,236 change order for the Safari Pass Sanitary Sewer Service Replacement after the contractor encountered deep pipe depths and groundwater, alongside awarding a stormwater basin cleaning contract for MS4 compliance.

The Safari Pass sanitary sewer project cost increased by 86%, jumping from an awarded $31,538 to $58,774 due to unforeseen site conditions.

Contractor BKJ Land Co. II, Inc. encountered sanitary lines at 13 feet rather than the typical 8-10 feet, with portions submerged below the water table requiring a vacuum truck.

Unmapped electrical lines delayed the expected two-day project to over a week.

The council also awarded a $50,310 contract to Hydro-Klean for sump catch basin cleaning to meet MS4 NPDES permit requirements, coming in well under the $166,500 budget.

The Apple Valley City Council unanimously approved its consent agenda on August 13, greenlighting two municipal utility contracts, including a significant change order for an embattled sanitary sewer replacement project. The council approved a $27,236.45 change order for the Safari Pass Sanitary Sewer Service Replacement project (Project 2026-154), pushing the total contract value with BKJ Land Co. II, Inc. from $31,538 to $58,774.45. According to a memo from City Engineer Brandon Anderson, the cost increase was driven by multiple unforeseen underground conflicts that extended the project timeline from an estimated two days to more than a week. During excavation, the contractor encountered sanitary service lines at a depth of 13 feet, significantly deeper than the city's typical 8 to 10 feet. A portion of the line was located below the water table, necessitating a vacuum truck to place 30 feet of sanitary pipe. The project was further delayed by unlocated power lines near a residence. After the contractor struck an abandoned line, the Dakota Electric Association identified three additional unmapped lines conflicting with the excavation zone. The additional costs, funded by the Sanitary Sewer Utility, cover extra labor, equipment, and traffic control. In a separate item, the council approved a $50,310 agreement with Hydro-Klean, LLC for sump basin cleaning (Project 2026-168). The contractor will remove sediment from 559 sump catch basins along county and collector roads at a rate of $90 per basin. Utilities Superintendent Brian Skok noted the work is required to comply with the city's MS4 National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The contract came in well below the $166,500 allocated from the Public Works Storm Drainage Utility's 2026 operations budget.