Wagoner County commissioners approve release of two roofing payments after warranty concerns; punch-list work to continue

Wagoner County commissioners voted to release two contractor paychecks — $60,000 each — while staff and the contractor continue addressing warranty punch-list items on several county buildings.

The decision followed extended discussion of incomplete punch-list items, manufacturer warranty language that staff said contained exclusions, and recent warranty inspections and markings on several roofs. Maintenance manager Chris Potter told the board that the manufacturer had returned for inspection and that ABEST Roofing would be back on site Wednesday to conduct additional inspection and water testing.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they wanted to avoid indefinitely withholding payment for substantial work while ensuring the county retained protections (conditional lien releases and surety amounts) and that remaining leak-prone areas were identified and corrected with documented warranty coverage.

What the board heard: County staff and an onsite contractor representative explained that some warranty documents needed address and item clarifications (one building was listed under a grouped identifier rather than a street address) and that the manufacturer had issued warranties but also flagged additional areas that “might leak” and recommended follow-up work. Staff said photographs and an inspection report exist and that the contractor would perform a water test to locate the source of an intermittently reported leak. Maintenance manager Chris Potter confirmed he would walk the manufacturer’s inspector on Wednesday.

Staff also told commissioners that some lien/surety release forms listed the wrong contract amount because several change orders had altered the contract total; staff asked the contractor to deliver corrected conditional lien releases tied to the approved change orders.

Board action and next steps: The board voted to authorize release of the two paychecks while retaining contractual remedies: staff will continue to pursue corrected pay application line items, corrected lien and surety releases, and completion of punch-list items identified by the manufacturer. Commissioners also asked staff to obtain the manufacturer’s latest inspection report and photographs and to provide an update at the next meeting.

Context and caveats: County staff repeatedly emphasized that some items marked by the manufacturer were observations of areas “that might leak” rather than items that void a warranty; staff described the warranty as issued by the manufacturer. Commissioners asked for specificity — which punch-list items remain and which are covered by warranty — and instructed staff to get written documentation. A board member said the county would not withhold payment for trivial items such as leaves on a roof, but wanted clear, documented remaining work before final closeout.

Ending: Staff will obtain the manufacturer’s inspection documentation, corrected lien/surety paperwork reflecting approved change orders, and a timetable for completing any warranty or punch-list work; the board will review updates at future meetings.