DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Execute Construction Service Contract Amendments With Ames Construction, Inc., S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc., And WSB & Associates, Inc. For Minnesota River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment In Eagan And Authorization To Amend 2026 Parks Capital Improvement Program Budget For County Project 1000625 (P00127)
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Minnesota River Greenway Runs along the south side of the Minnesota River in Eagan and Burnsville, extending from I-35W in Burnsville to Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 11-516 (October 18, 2011), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners adopted the Minnesota River Greenway Plan; and
WHEREAS, the rapidly developing and robust recreational network that has developed in the area has created increased demand for completion of the trail connection between the recently constructed Lone Oak trailhead, the Cedar-Nicols Trailhead, and the Minnesota River Greenway Black Dog Segment to the west; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 23-423 (September 26, 2023), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of a contract with S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. for construction services for the trail portion of the Fort Snelling segment of the Minnesota River Greenway in an amount not to exceed $8,866,97; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 25-338 (July 8, 2025), Dakota County executed a contract amendment with S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $11,061,734 due to expenses incurred by project delays, flooding within the project area, and increases in material quantities; and
WHEREAS, additional expenses were incurred related to contractor delay and remobilization, increased labor costs and additional materials that were required to bring the trail portion of the project to completion; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 25-159 (March 25, 2025), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of a contract with Ames Construction, Inc. for construction services for the bridge portion of the Fort Snelling segment of the Minnesota River Greenway in an amount not to exceed $8,858,710; and
WHEREAS, additional expenses were incurred in the course of the bridge construction related to railroad monitoring services, wetland monitoring, temporary access paths, fencing, and environmental remediation; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 23-455 (October 10, 2023), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of a contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. for construction administration and inspection services for the trail portion of the Fort Snelling segment of the Minnesota River Greenway in an amount not to exceed $480,961; and
WHEREAS, By Resolution 25-398 (August 26, 2025), The Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of a contract amendment with WSB & Associates, Inc. for construction administration and inspection services for the trail portion of the Fort Snelling segment of the Minnesota River Greenway in an amount not to exceed $576,019 due to an elongated construction schedule; and
WHEREAS, additional expenses under construction administration and inspection contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. totaling $28,240 are necessary to bring the trail portion of the project to completion; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County has identified additional expenses of $45,000 outside of the current construction and administration contracts for tree removals and materials testing required to complete the project.
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager, or their delegate, to amend the contract with S.M. Hentges and Sons, Inc. to an amount not to exceed $12,246,786 for additional materials and cost escalations related to schedule delays, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners herby authorizes the County Manager, or their delegate, to amend the contract with Ames Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $10,001,969 for additional materials, environmental protection measures, and railroad monitoring services, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager, or their delegate, to amend the contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $604,259 for continued construction observation and inspection services, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby amend the 2026 Parks Capital Improvement program as follows:
Expense
MN River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment - 1000625 (P00127) $1,954,701
Total Expense $1,954,701
Revenue
Transportation Sales and Use Tax - 1000625 (P00127) ($1,954,701)
Total Revenue ($1,954,701)
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BACKGROUND
Dakota County is continuing with the Minnesota River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment (P00127) to construct 3.7 miles of the Minnesota River Greenway between trailheads located near Nicols Road and Lone Oak Road in Burnsville and Eagan, including a bridge to cross over railroad owned by Union Pacific (Attachment: Project Map) By Resolution No. 25-159, (March 25, 2025), the County executed a contract with Ames Construction, Inc. for $8,858,710 for bridge construction services.
Work on the bridge began in April 2025 and is now nearing completion. In the course of construction, multiple change orders were executed for additional costs incurred in the process, including railroad monitoring for work occurring on Union Pacific property, environmental monitoring and contingency expenses related to pile driving near sensitive fen wetlands, additional construction materials, and several added tasks that were required as construction proceeded. These additional change orders total $1,143,260 (Attachment: Change Order Summary - Ames) and include the following expenses:
• Railroad monitoring services: $680,000
• Temporary construction access road: $172,510
• Fen monitoring and contingency: $73,500
• Fencing at railroad property line: $85,000
• Additional construction materials: $41,250
• House foundation removal: $30,000
• Additional rest area: $40,000
• Additional actions and materials tracked by time and materials: $21,000
The trail portion of the greenway is substantially complete. Following the last contract amendment, six additional change orders have been executed, with a seventh pending. These change orders are related to both the delays that occurred in 2024 and other material expenses that arose through the construction process in 2025. The majority of the expenses shown in the change orders stemmed from work stoppages due to cultural site violations that occurred in Winter 2024 and flooding in Summer 2024 that led to a one-year project delay and significant costs related to site restoration and contractor remobilization. The change orders also include additional cost increases related to the delay including increased labor rates, additional topsoil for the trail embankment, and additional erosion control measures over the extended construction process. These additional change orders total $1,185,053 (Attachment: Change Order Summary - Hentges), and include the following expenses:
• Contractor delay and remobilization: $256,325
• Labor cost escalation: $244,575
• Topsoil import: $595,980
• Erosion control and seeding: $71,047
• Miscellaneous additional materials and expenses: $25,528
• Correction for a canceled change order included in earlier amendment: ($8,400)
The requested construction administration expenses for trail construction are through an existing contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. (Attachment: WSB Amendment Request).
• Construction administration for trail work: $28,240
With conclusion of the trail and bridge construction, several expenses have occurred or are anticipated, including the following:
• Tree removal: $30,000
• Materials testing by MnDOT: $15,000
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization of a contract amendment with Ames Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,143,260 for additional expenses incurred during the construction of the Minnesota River Greenway - Fort Snelling Segment. Staff further recommends authorization of a contract amendment with S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $1,185,053 for additional expenses incurred during the construction of the Minnesota River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment. Staff further recommends execution of a contract amendment with WSB & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $28,240 for construction administration services for the trail portion of the project.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
The Parks Capital Improvement Program includes $23,415,932, including $3,508,000 in federal funds awarded through the 2018 Regional Solicitation. The change orders and additional expenses summarized above total $2,401,552. There are $446,851 in uncommitted funds remaining for the project. The requested actions will require a budget amendment to the project to add $1,954,701 in Sales and Use Tax funds.
Current Project Budget - 1000625 P00127 MN River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment
|
Funding Source |
Total Approved Budget |
Available Budget |
|
Sales and Use Tax |
$3,784,226 |
$408,025 |
|
Regional Railroad Authority Fund |
$2,610,131 |
$39 |
|
Park Fund Balance |
$186,358 |
$0 |
|
State of Minnesota |
$5,093,794 |
$0 |
|
Met Council Parks and Trails Legacy Fun Grant |
$4,090,569 |
$38,787 |
|
Levy |
$914,001 |
$0 |
|
Federal Award |
$3,508,000 |
$0 |
|
County Program Aid |
$1,058,719 |
$0 |
|
Environmental Legacy Fund |
$2,099,285 |
$0 |
|
Transportation Fund |
$70,849 |
$0 |
|
Total |
$23,415,932 |
$446,851 |
Proposed Project Budget - 1000625 P00127 MN River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment
|
Funding Source |
Total Approved Budget |
Available Budget |
|
Sales and Use Tax |
$5,738,927 |
$2,362,726 |
|
Regional Railroad Authority Fund |
$2,610,131 |
$39 |
|
Park Fund Balance |
$186,358 |
$0 |
|
State of Minnesota |
$5,093,794 |
$0 |
|
Met Council Parks and Trails Legacy Fund Grant |
$4,090,569 |
$38,787 |
|
Levy |
$914,001 |
$0 |
|
Federal Award |
$3,508,000 |
$0 |
|
County Program Aid |
$1,058,719 |
$0 |
|
Environmental Legacy Fund |
$2,099,285 |
$0 |
|
Transportation Fund |
$70,849 |
$0 |
|
Total |
$25,370,633 |
$2,401,552 |
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
11-516; 10/18/11
23-423; 9/26/23
23-455; 10/10/23
25-159; 3/25/25
25-338; 7/8/25
25-398; 8/26/25
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Area
Attachment: Change Order Summary - Ames
Attachment: Change Order Summary - Hentges
Attachment: WSB Amendment Request
CONTACT
Department Director: Niki Geisler
Author: Joe Morneau