Newton issues change order to replace encroaching light pole

Upon discovering that a recently installed light pole base at the new Aurora Park tennis courts had encroached onto a neighboring property by just 18 inches, the Newton City Council was forced to approve a more than $22,000 change order to remove the base and the 50-foot light pole and then reinstall them elsewhere.

In June, the city council awarded the tennis court lighting project to Kline Electric for $346,146. The mistake was found during construction, which was the result of the expanded tennis court footprint approved after the project’s final design. The base is 15 feet and will be reinstalled just north and east of the current location.

The new location is entirely within city property.

Kline Electric submitted the proposed change order at $22,850, which is a 6.6 percent increase to the total project cost and will be paid from general funds. The city said no additional change orders are expected as the work is nearing completion. The council approved the change order in a 6-0 vote.

Other change orders have impacted the tennis courts projects at Aurora Park. Two months ago, the council approved the fourth change order since the project first started in summer. In total, the tennis courts change orders amounted to an extra $227,932 toward the $667,683 resurfacing project.