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Commissioners approve $336,000 amendment to courthouse design contract from existing $37 million ceiling
Summary
Alamance County commissioners voted 4–1 to approve a $336,000 change order adding audio-visual/security/telecom and plan-approval services to CRA Associates' courthouse design contract; county staff said the funds come from the previously approved $37 million project ceiling and do not increase the project total.
Alamance County commissioners on Monday approved a $336,000 amendment to the county's design contract with CRA Associates to add audio-visual, security, telecommunications and plan-approval services for the new courthouse project. The motion passed 4–1.
County staff said the amendment breaks down to roughly $304,000 for audiovisual, security, telecom and acoustical consulting and about $32,000 for city and DOT plan approvals and erosion-control permits. Staff told commissioners that the $336,000 draws from the $37 million project ceiling the board previously approved and does not require an increase in the overall project budget.
Commissioners questioned the level of pre-bid budget detail and requested a one-page summary of previous approvals and major budget buckets for future reference. Staff said early approvals on the project had been conceptual and that a more detailed apportioning of design vs. construction costs would emerge as the design progresses.
One commissioner asked whether the funds would come from contingency or from another line item; staff replied that the approved $37 million ceiling had not been allocated with that level of granularity and that the county will work with the construction manager to apportion funds across design and construction as the project advances.
The board voted to remove the item from the consent agenda for discussion; after questions and a motion to approve, the vote passed 4–1. County staff said any contract over the county's $100,000 approval threshold requires the commission's approval. The county attorney recorded the vote as "4 to 1." The lone dissenting commissioner voiced concern about further courthouse expenditures but did not block the approval.
Ending: Staff committed to follow up with a one-page overview of the original project approval and main budget categories so commissioners who joined the board more recently could review how the $37 million ceiling was established and apportioned.
