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Council discusses structural and roofing problems at Hostess House; denies an identified change order
Summary
Lampasas City Council reviewed new structural and roofing problems uncovered during renovations to the Hostess House, discussed insurance coverage and the project scope, and voted to deny a council-listed change order; council also considered raising the project contingency but no final vote on that increase was recorded in the transcript.
Lampasas City Council reviewed new structural and roofing concerns at the Hostess House during its February workshop and voted to deny a change order related to the renovation project.
Council members and staff described newly uncovered problems in the older portion of the building and discussed whether to seek further structural assessment and an insurance claim before proceeding with additional work. City staff said the roofing on the older portion of the Hostess House is not a conventional roof material and that the existing surface shows exposed fasteners and other issues that could lead to future failure. Staff also reported that the project team removed a planned addition from the change order after consulting with the insurer.
The council voted in open session to deny the change order that had been brought forward at this meeting. Council members also discussed whether to increase the project contingency from 5 percent to 10 percent to reduce the need for repeated change-order votes; the transcript records discussion of that contingency increase but does not show a final vote on the contingency increase during this session.
Council members said they want to ensure citizen safety and recommended additional review of structural issues before advancing nonessential work. One council member suggested convening in executive session to determine legal or contractual direction before committing to additional contractor work or third‑party assessments. City staff said they would prioritize safety-related assessments and return with recommendations.
The denial vote and the direction to prioritize safety leave the underlying renovation contract and future change orders subject to further review and future council action.
