Commissioners approve late-stage change orders, add contingency for courthouse restoration

Callahan County commissioners approved three proposed change orders for the courthouse restoration and annex project and agreed to add contingency funds to avoid delays as contractors finish work.

The change orders approved Feb. 10 cover landscaping and irrigation, additional routing and controllers for door-access and camera systems, and a request to add contingency money to the project’s remaining budget. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the measures after a facilities committee update and staff explanation of the change-order details.

The facilities committee reported ongoing progress: painters expected to begin wall painting this week to allow floor installation, elevator inspection remains pending until courthouse power is restored, and restoration of historic furniture is underway. The committee said contractor JC Stoddard will issue bid packages for the annex within one to two weeks, with an anticipated guaranteed maximum price discussion in March and a possible presentation to the court in April.

PCO No. 52 covers landscaping and irrigation work from a local contractor identified in meeting materials as Texas Grass Sheel Grove; the county removed landscaping from the original GMP and had budgeted the work from the general fund. County staff said the quoted amount for landscaping was roughly $177,000 and that bond funds were already committed to other uses.

PCO No. 53 covers electrical and security work by Watson, the project’s electrical subcontractor, including additional routing on multiple floors and controllers for geothermal pumps in the mechanical yard. Staff said an earlier, higher bid was negotiated down after JC Stoddard and Watson reviewed allowances and removed duplicative charges.

Staff also asked the court to add contingency funds to allow JC Stoddard flexibility to handle subcontractor needs at the close of the project without delaying work while awaiting county approval for small change orders. The written PCO materials listed an additional contingency amount of $250,000 with a planned deduction of $85,000 tied to PCO 53; staff clarified that prior shifts had removed $107,000 from the original contingency to pay for annex geothermal work that could not be charged to the courthouse project under historic-commission restrictions. All change orders and contingency expenditures will return to the court for review when paid, staff said.

Commissioner (mover) "Mister Foner" made the motion to approve the PCOs; Commissioner (seconder) "Commissioner William" seconded. The court recorded the vote as unanimous.

The facilities committee said it will coordinate return of historic furniture being refinished by the prison system and will provide a proposed rededication date to the court at an upcoming meeting.