Commission Authorizes Chairman to Approve Change Orders for $5.1M Courthouse Renovation; HVAC and Drainage Issues Raised

The Jackson County Commission authorized the chairman to approve contractor change orders up to $100,000 for the county’s courthouse and the Liberty Lane renovation contract, which staff described as having a total value of approximately $5.1 million.

County maintenance staff reported discovery of several issues during renovation work. Maintenance said three of seven HVAC units at the Liberty Lane building are not working; staff and contractors discussed repair vs. replacement and cited a replacement estimate discussed during the meeting. ‘‘We are thinking somewhere in the $3,540,000 range to replace those,’’ a maintenance speaker said during discussion, and staff noted the estimate was not final.

Staff also identified drainage and sewer concerns at the courthouse. Work to route downspouts into the wastewater/drainage system was not part of the original specifications and will require a change order; camera inspections of old cast sewer piping showed areas of deterioration and seepage. According to the discussion, a consultant said if pipe bottoms have rotted to the point of seepage, replacement is required ‘‘by state law,’’ and the county plans further camera and jetting work to scope the problem.

To avoid bringing every cost back to the commission during active construction, commissioners voted to delegate authority to the chairman to approve necessary change orders up to a $100,000 cap. Commissioners were told Liberty Lane renovation remains on schedule for completion in about four weeks, and staff will return with final quotes and specific change-order requests as they are developed.