Commissioners approve jail change order and add $500,000 from fund balance for remaining work

The Nash County Board of Commissioners on March 10 approved a $53,634.10 change order (change order 16) to the detention facility addition and renovation contract to cover security camera enhancements and replacement of two smoke‑evacuation fans, increasing the amended contract price to $18,992,103.62.

Deputy County Manager Jonathan Boone told the board the change order addresses four items, the largest of which was security camera enhancements and integration with the project camera system and replacement of two smoke‑evacuation fans in dorms 4 and 5. Boone said the broader project has incurred multiple change orders to date but remained below 10% of the original contract amount; he also warned a future additional change order tied to life‑safety systems on the west side of the facility would likely push the total above 10%.

Boone said department staff and the project architect had characterized the additional required smoke‑evacuation fans as omissions rather than design errors; the board discussed whether the county had contractual recourse against the architect but staff said they were not presenting a claim at this time. "This has come up in a previous meeting. This was an omission, not an error," Boone said. He reported that the architect had not requested additional fee for design work associated with the additional fans.

Following the construction change‑order approval, the board considered a project‑ordinance amendment to appropriate $500,000 from general‑fund fund balance to cover phase 1 of detention facility renovation change orders and anticipated life‑safety work. Finance Director Melody Eason presented the ordinance amendment and said the requested funds would be transferred from the general fund balance to the detention project. Commissioner Davis asked whether the county typically approves change orders first and then the ordinance; staff said that has been the practice and that the ordinance amendment sets aside funds to cover the approved change order and anticipated additional change orders.

Commissioners approved the change order and the $500,000 project‑ordinance amendment by voice vote. Boone indicated staff would continue to manage costs and use construction change directives and subcontractor reporting to limit final costs; he said additional smoke‑evacuation work will require further action and that the project remains on track for completion pending the additional life‑safety work.

The board received no timetable for the final closeout, but staff said the additional east/west life‑safety items must be completed and approved by state authorities for the county to occupy certain renovated spaces. No final invoice or completion date was announced at the meeting.