Callahan County Commissioners Court on July 14 approved a proposed change order tied to the courthouse restoration project, heard a contractor timeline that places substantial completion between Oct. 31 and mid-November, and authorized one-year extensions on temporary leases for the county’s operations and storage buildings.

The county’s facilities committee provided the update and contractor Kurt Stoddard of JC Stoddard told the court he expects “somewhere between [Oct. 31] and November 15 or so” for substantial completion. Stoddard said one subcontractor part delayed a geothermal pump, and that three of four pumps were running; the fourth pump requires a replacement part that has been ordered. “I want to get it done as long as it’s done quality,” he said.

County facilities lead Garrett (last name not specified in record) said the interior work is advancing — electrical and IT rooms are sealed and ready for data cabling and doors and glass are still being finished — but emphasized that substantial completion is distinct from public use. “Substantially complete means then the elevator’s in service,” Garrett said, and noted furniture delivery, building-management-system programming, security camera and door-access programming, and IT server moves will follow that milestone. He and the contractor said furniture installers typically will not schedule deliveries until the elevator is online.

The court approved the change order (identified in the meeting as “PCO 55 r”) to be paid from the courthouse construction contingency. Commissioner Windham moved to approve the change order and Commissioner McGowan seconded; the court voted aye with no opposition.

The court also authorized the county judge to sign lease extensions for several temporary buildings used during construction. Those include the Temporary Operations Building (TOB) and the Pruitt storage building; the county attorney’s office remains on a $1-per-year lease until the courthouse is reoccupied, and the EDC building lease will continue on existing terms. Realtor Missy Oliver and property owner Craig Pruitt have prepared renewal documents; Pruitt requested a one-year commitment for the TOB and was amenable to continuing current rates for storage. Court members said the driver-license office will need a temporary site that meets driving-route and secure IT requirements; staff said they are coordinating with the state driver-license office on those needs.

Commissioners and the contractor discussed the cost impacts of extending the schedule. Stoddard said his firm did not charge all monthly general-condition amounts it could have when the schedule lengthened and indicated some additional costs would be incurred if work extended further. The contractor said he would notify the court if completion could be earlier than the projected October–November window.

The court discussed holding a rededication event after systems, furniture and inspections are complete; staff cautioned that a ceremony immediately after substantial completion is unlikely because of the remaining commissioning and furniture timelines.

Ending: The court approved PCO 55 r and the lease extensions; staff will continue to coordinate final commissioning, the elevator commissioning and the timetable for furniture delivery, security programming and IT moves before scheduling a rededication event.