Osceola County approves jail construction change orders and $392,511.28 August pay application

The Osceola County Board of Supervisors approved two change orders for the county jail construction project and authorized the project's August pay application of $392,511.28 at a public meeting. The board also approved several claims linked to the project and heard a site-progress update from county staff.

County construction staff gave a progress update saying plumbing and electrical work inside the new facility is complete, the emergency generator pad is in place, the transformer is activated, and exterior grading and roadwork are underway. The presenter said the transfer switch is scheduled for installation around Sept. 3 and recommended switching the site to permanent power after the manufacturer's start-up and training so the contractor can continue interior electrical work.

The presentation also covered a request to replace an existing leaking roof now, rather than waiting until building demolition, because leaving the roof off risks further damage. Staff said installing the roof now would start the manufacturer's warranty on completion and inspection rather than delaying warranty start months later. The board discussed temporary sidewalk access around the generator and agreed a temporary walkway from the north parking area would be useful until final paving.

On change orders, staff recommended acceptance of Change Order 1-1 to Stepest Companies as a net deduct of $62,246.59. Staff said the original list of value-engineering deductions totaled roughly $135,799.90, but after reviewing warranty and durability impacts (notably roof warranty and hail coverage) and restoring items that reduced warranty exposure, the net accepted deduct was $62,246.59. The board moved to accept Change Order 1-1; the motion carried.

The board also approved Change Order 1-2, a $8,124.90 addition to the contract related to connecting courthouse drainage to the new sanitary system, additional excavation to lower a new water main under an existing sanitary main, and related labor and materials. Staff said the storm-sewer issue encountered was partly attributable to a plugged city storm sewer; the city paid for that portion. The board moved to accept Change Order 1-2 and approved it.

Pay application and invoices: the board approved the August pay application totaling $392,511.28. Staff presented the invoices underlying the request, including a general construction invoice ($68,967.36), security frames and hardware from Noah Detention ($87,328.75), plumbing (Redlinger Brothers, $16,824.50), electrical (Winger, $57,228), survey staking (Jacobson and Westgard, $1,939.10), lab testing (Certified Testing, ~ $2,000), job toilet and dumpster fees, and an HVAC invoice listed in the packet (amount in the packet transcribed approximately as $133,660.90). The board voted to approve the pay application.

Claims and minutes: the board approved claims including claim number 327 (motion by Mike Scholte; support from Jeff Loring). During that vote one board member stated they would abstain (the transcript does not attach a name to the abstention). The board later approved the remainder of the claims. The board also approved the minutes from the Aug. 12 meeting and adopted the September meeting schedule (Sept. 9, Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, 2023).

Insurance and contract administration: staff said they are assembling builders-risk insurance materials (floor plans, building description, contractor insurance certificates) and will forward the documentation to agent Bill Peterson to secure builders-risk coverage required once construction starts going vertical. Staff also said subcontractors have been asked to update insurance certificates and to name Osceola County as additionally insured where required.

Why it matters: the construction approvals adjust contract sums and address warranty and safety risks (roof, generator/start-up, and underground utility work). The board's actions authorize immediate payments to contractors and keep onsite work progressing toward the next milestones.

Votes at a glance: agenda approval with deletion of a listed item (approved); approval of minutes from Aug. 12 (approved); approval of Sept. meeting schedule (approved); approval of Claim 327 (motion by Mike Scholte; second by Jeff Loring; one abstention noted in the record); approval of remainder of claims (approved); approval of Change Order 1-1 to Stepest Companies (net deduct $62,246.59; motion carried); approval of Change Order 1-2 to Stepest Companies (add $8,124.90; motion carried); approval of August pay application (total $392,511.28; motion carried).

The board directed staff to coordinate remaining steps (builders-risk insurance, transfer switch installation, manufacturer start-up for the emergency generator) and to keep the sheriff and E-9-1-1 coordinator informed about equipment and operational impacts. No schedule changes for final completion were adopted during the meeting.