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Hendry County ends contractor agreement for jail flood repairs and authorizes expedited remodel
Summary
The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners voted April 8 to terminate a contractor agreement tied to jail flood restoration and to authorize a remodel using a county-appointed project manager with limited procurement waivers to speed work.
Hendry County commissioners voted April 8 to terminate the county’s agreement with Signal for flood restoration work at the Hendry County Jail and to authorize a remodel using a county-appointed project manager and direct hiring of subcontractors.
County Attorney Matt Rollerson introduced the item, saying the county and the contractor “would like to not perform the work and we would like them to not perform the work as well.” The board then approved a motion to terminate the agreement and bring the matter to closure.
The board also authorized a remodel of the jail and directed staff to use Jim Sabella as project manager, permit the county to hire subcontractors directly and waive parts of the county procurement policy for this project. Rollerson said procurement would be waived except that items exceeding $10,000 would still require written quotes. Commissioners voted in favor of the remodel authorization.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the actions are intended to move restoration and repairs forward more quickly after earlier problems with the contracted work. The procurement waiver was presented as a time-saving step to expedite repairs while keeping some contract oversight through the county attorney’s office.
Details: County Attorney Matt Rollerson presented both items to the board. The termination motion passed after a voice vote of “Aye” and the board recorded the motion as passed. For the remodel, commissioners discussed requiring the use of approved county contracts and ensuring licensed, insured contractors are used; Rollerson confirmed contract terms would be reviewed by his office.
What the board directed next: Staff will proceed with contract termination and prepare documents and agreements for the jail remodel under the conditions approved by the board, including use of Jim Sabella as project manager and requiring written quotes for purchases over $10,000. No additional funding amounts or schedule were specified at the meeting.
Ending: Commissioners recorded the votes as passed and moved on to other items. The board did not adopt a detailed construction schedule or specify a dollar amount for the remodel during the meeting.
