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Fort Pierce commission extends Highwaymen Museum grant deadline amid concerns over pending change orders
Summary
The City Commission approved an extension of the Department of State grant for the Highwaymen Museum to Dec. 31, 2025, while commissioners pressed staff about four unbudgeted change orders — roughly $148,000 total — for windows, parking, dumpster enclosure and second‑floor leveling.
The City of Fort Pierce Commission on June 2 approved an amendment to the grant agreement with the State of Florida Department of State that extends the grant period for the Highwaymen Museum project to Dec. 31, 2025.
Commissioners voted 5‑0 to approve the extension while seeking further details about four pending change orders staff said remain under legal review and have not been incorporated into the project budget.
The request drew prolonged discussion about project completion, outstanding inspections and funding. City staff told commissioners there are four remaining change orders: “Change order 13 is to level the second floor. Change order 14 is the removal and replacement of the windows. Change order 15 was the construction of a dumpster enclosure, and change order 16 is the parking lot correction,” said city staff member Miss Moore. Moore said the change orders are under review by the city attorney and will return to the commission for approval if and when the attorney clears them for consideration.
City Engineer Mark Z told commissioners the contractor has submitted a proposal for the parking‑lot work and that the engineering office is satisfied with the plan under review. Moore added that the four pending change orders would total about $148,000 if approved; she said those amounts are unbudgeted.
Commissioners raised operational concerns. Staff reported a failed final inspection related to the fire‑alarm system; the part will be reordered and another inspection scheduled, possibly not completing until June 15. Commissioners also questioned whether the windows should be replaced with higher‑grade, “museum” windows; staff said the existing windows are high‑impact and bear a Miami‑Dade certification stamp, but that the replacement is a discretionary aesthetic decision tied to the requested change order.
On funding, one commissioner noted the likely source would be funds in the FPRA account identified for such projects. Miss Moore confirmed she would present the change orders and the associated costs to the commission after legal review, at which point the commission would decide whether to approve them and identify funding.
Action: The commission approved the second extension of the grant period to Dec. 31, 2025. Vote: Commissioner Broderick — Yes; Commissioner Gaines — Yes; Commissioner Johnson — Yes; Commissioner Taylor — Yes; Mayor Linda Hudson — Yes.
The commission did not approve any of the pending change orders at the June 2 meeting; staff said each change order would return to the commission after review by the city attorney.
Why it matters: The Highwaymen Museum is a publicly funded cultural project with outstanding construction tasks and unbudgeted change orders. Commissioners emphasized the need for clearer project documentation, timely staff oversight of inspections, and a transparent plan for paying for additional work before authorizing more spending.
