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Kerr County approves extra testing, construction change orders for animal services facility and opens sale process for old shelter
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Summary
Kerr County Commissioners approved a $17,950 change order for materials testing, a $38,034 construction change order and began the process to appraise and offer the old animal services building for sale, while appointing a selection committee for a rainwater catchment system.
Kerr County Commissioners on Monday approved additional construction testing and change orders for the county’s new animal services facility, authorized work to meet new safety and mechanical requirements, and directed staff to begin the process to appraise and offer the former animal shelter property for sale.
The court voted unanimously to increase the material-and-utility testing budget and to authorize a change order with UES Professional Services 44, LLC. County engineers later won approval for a separate construction change order with J.K. Bernhardt Construction Company covering fire-code doors, panic hardware and an IT-room mini-split HVAC unit.
The actions come as the county manages the facility’s construction budget and pursues related utility and site work. “The county engineer requests the court increase the material and utility testing budget from $33,392 to $41,082 and authorize the county judge to execute a change order with UES Professional Services 44, LLC in the amount of $17,950,” County Engineer Charlie Hastings told the court.
Why it matters: the approvals cover testing and required construction items the county says were not fully priced in earlier estimates and are needed to comply with code and to protect systems (for example, HVAC for IT equipment). The court also authorized appointing a committee to review proposals for a rainwater catchment system for the new facility and moved to begin the formal sale process for the county’s older animal services property at 3600 Loop 534.
Most immediate decisions: the court increased testing funds to pay UES’s final estimate, accepted a $38,034.12 J.K. Bernhardt change order for Sally port panic hardware, a fire-rated door, chemical-resistant doors and a mini split HVAC for the IT room, and approved sending the old animal services property to appraisal and solicitation.
County Engineer Charlie Hastings told commissioners the final testing estimate came after UES received the construction schedule in April and identified additional needed services. “The total is $37,150, which is $7,150 over the court budgeted amount for material and utility testing,” Hastings said, noting bond interest accruals increased the available fund balance to about $60,093 as of May 29.
Reagan Gibbons, director of Kerr County Animal Services, presented donations and earlier procurement steps; Hastings and court members said earlier roofing and structural work had been done and that the new charges respond to items that arose once construction moved from design into building.
On the rainwater catchment procurement, the court appointed a three-person selection and review committee to evaluate qualifications and proposals. The court named Commissioner Richard Holt, County Engineer Charlie Hastings and grant coordinator Noelle Putnam to the committee and set the RFQ/bid window (the solicitation information is posted on the county website).
On the property sale, the court voted to begin the formal process to sell the county-owned building at 3600 Loop 534. The court also designated a three-person committee to administer the appraisal and solicitation process, authorized staff to expend funds for the required public notice and appraiser, and instructed staff to draft minimum acceptable terms after the appraisal. The court emphasized the process will follow the county’s sale policy and requirements under local government code.
What was not decided: the court did not award a buyer or set a price; the action was limited to starting appraisal and solicitation steps. Several commissioners asked that salvageable or useful assets (for example certain portable offices and a metal storage building) be identified and excluded from sale or otherwise retained for county use.
Next steps: the selection committee will evaluate rainwater-catchment proposals and report back to the court, staff will order an appraisal for the old shelter site and return with a recommended solicitation package and minimum terms for the property sale.
Ending: The approvals leave the animal services construction program largely on track but with additional budget requests the court said it will continue to track; the county also opened the sale process for the prior shelter property to potentially offset project costs.
