Decorah City Administrator given authority to approve minor change orders for Short Street

The Decorah City Council has voted to give City Administrator Chad Bird the authority to authorize small change orders associated with the 2012 Short Street Improvement Project.

The city council approved giving Bird the authority to approve up to $5,000 per occurrence and up to five change orders without first waiting for city council approval.

Under the current system, change orders must be approved at city council meetings, but waiting until the next council meeting could delay certain aspects of the project.

City Street Committee chair Gary Rustad noted, "A lot of times we're voting on change orders that have already happened."

Bird assured the city council that he would report back to them at their meetings about the minor change orders that get authorized.