Kerr County approves builders-risk insurance, limited change order as animal control project moves toward slab pour

Kerr Countycommissioners on Tuesday approved a builders-risk insurance policy for the new animal control facility and authorized a targeted change order for electrical work staff described as critical to proceed before the building slab is poured.

The court authorized the County Judge to execute a builders-risk policy with the Chubb Group of insurance companies effective June 1, 2025, selecting the option that includes terrorism coverage for a premium of $8,151. County Engineer Charlie Hastings presented the coverage options and the policy start date.

County staff said the projectcontractor, JK Bernhardt Construction Company, and the county previously value-engineered elements out of the awarded contract to meet the bond-approved budget. As foundation work nears, engineers told the court that some work must be installed under the slab or will become much more expensive to add later.

Hastings and Commissioner Holt urged the court to approve a single change order limited to critical-path electrical items: large conduit runs under the slab and a fused transfer-switch configuration sized to accept a future generator. The court approved that change order in the amount of $21,840.13.

Hastings emphasized the timing: the first of two slab pours was scheduled for mid-May (presenters referenced May 19 for a pour), and conduit for future electrical service must go under the slab before concrete placement. He said other requested change-order items including upgraded interior finishes, additional lighting, or coatings on some doors could be deferred pending further review.

The county is also negotiating a change order with UES Professional Solutions to cover construction material testing and related quality-control services; Hastings said staff were still negotiating amounts and would not bring a fully executed change order to the court yet. Commissioners and staff described a dispute over whether some testing was part of the original scope or had been value-engineered out and therefore should be paid by the contractor.

Several commissioners pressed for transparency on the overall final project cost. County staff told the court that some project elements that had been excluded from the construction contract (kennels, fencing, furniture/fixtures/equipment) will be proposed in the next fiscal-year budget and that the court would receive an itemized accounting at budget hearings.

Commissioners asked county staff to continue strict review of requested change orders and to report back with a consolidated estimate of the remaining required expenditures before the facility can open.

Whathappens next: the county will finalize negotiations with the testing firm and install the conduit and transfer-switch items ahead of the slab pours. Staff expect to include additional project costs in next year's budget cycle and will provide a fuller accounting to the court in future budget discussions.