Teton County commissioners unanimously approved a change order (E and B-002) to the GMP contract with GE Johnson (doing business as DPR/GE Johnson) for the modular-building phase of the Justice Center project.

Facilities Maintenance Manager Josiah Nash and project team representatives described the amendment as work tied to initial site prep and modular relocation and an allowance for modular rebuild and transport reconciliation. Project owner’s representative Tom Ference said portions of the work—tree removal, removal of a power pole, and site prep—had already been committed and that some allowances were included to allow subcontractors to get started; allowances will be reconciled against actual costs.

The vote followed a longer discussion about the larger temporary housing plan for court functions. Commissioners expressed concern that initial temporary-housing estimates had risen from roughly $2 million to near $5 million, and asked staff to explore alternatives: leasing and building out a commercial shell, buying modulars outright, or identifying other spaces. Administrator Jody Pond and owner’s rep Tom Ference said staff had identified at least one commercial shell that may require substantial build-out and that some cost savings from other project decisions (demolition of the Hansen building) had offset parts of the broader project budget.

Commissioner Gardner urged staff to convene a short workshop to evaluate alternatives and to present a focused list of options before the board; staff agreed to try to schedule a workshop the following Monday to review alternatives and the specific change order details. Commissioner Gardner, while supporting the change order vote, emphasized unease at spending large sums on temporary modular structures that will be dismantled in a few years.

Action: Commissioner Gardner moved to approve change order E and B-002 to the GMP contract with GE Johnson Wyoming for the modular building phase of the Justice Center project. Commissioner Carleman seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Ending: Staff will continue to evaluate alternative temporary-housing options for court functions, reconcile allowances against actual modular costs and transport expenses, and report back to the board in a workshop and subsequent staff report.