Rockwall County approves multiple change orders, AV scope and annex finish work; NemoQ texting limit set at 10,000 texts/month

Rockwall County Commissioners on July 22 approved a string of construction change orders, audiovisual upgrades and project management contracts tied to the courthouse third-floor renovation and the new county annex, and set an interim texting allowance for the county tax assessor'collector's NemoQ customer-notification system.

The court approved proposed change orders for the courthouse Third Floor project with Hill & Wilkinson Construction Group that included both credits and additions tied to unforeseen site conditions and equipment relocations. Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve proposed change order number 3 (credit related to existing elevator shaft conditions), change order number 4 (relocation of a fire panel) and change order number 5 (an additive change to include the courtroom AV scope in the construction contract). A court motion recorded during the meeting said the AV scope would be funded from money the county had set aside for that purpose.

Annex project status and contingency

Project staff reported the Rockwall County Annex project was performing on schedule and under budget, with a remaining contingency shown on the presentation of about $192,427 (staff noted that figure was updated during the meeting). Substantial completion was listed as the day following the presentation; final punch-list work, furniture deliveries and systems turn-up were ongoing. Two remaining furniture delivery dates were given as July 24 and Aug. 14.

Construction auditing and owner representation

The court approved a construction audit services agreement with R. L. Townsend & Associates for the sheriff's office renovation project and approved amendment number 3 to the county's owner's-representative agreement (Broadus) to extend those on-site project management services through project completion. Both votes passed 5-0.

Park Hill schematic design for courthouse adjustments

Commissioners approved a proposal from Park Hill for schematic design work related to possible courthouse improvements and a District Attorney expansion, authorizing schematic design funding of $41,993 from the county contingency fund. The schematic phase will provide floor plans, conceptual options and an opinion of probable cost; the court will decide whether to proceed to design-development later.

Annex technical items and inspection contracts

The court approved multiple annex-related change orders and accounting reallocations needed to close the project, and it approved a one-year proprietary inspection agreement with Carruth Protection Services for annual inspection of the annex fire alarm system at a fee of $945 (vote 5-0).

NemoQ text-message allotment and PCO process

The court debated and then set a temporary texting allowance for the tax assessor-collector's NemoQ system. The initial contract option presented included a 50,000-text-per-month tier at $12,265; an alternative listed 5,000 texts per month at an annual cost of $1,800. After extended discussion about likely usage and cost, the court directed staff to pursue a service configuration for 10,000 texts per month (annual cost shown in the negotiated quote: $3,066); the motion to proceed with that configuration passed 3-2. Staff and legal counsel warned that the formal proposed change order language on the contractor's paperwork would need to be edited to reflect the chosen texting limit, and additional board action would appear on a subsequent consent agenda to finalize the contract wording and change-order documentation.

Other logistics and next steps

Contractors and staff said remaining items include a handful of PCOs in the bullpen that are not yet ready for execution, final systems testing, owner's training, and scheduling the grand opening for the annex once the Tax Assessor-Collector's office physically moves in (staff said the county is targeting early fall to ensure the building is occupied when the public tour occurs). The court approved several accounting PCOs intended to reallocate costs between trades as the project closes; those votes passed unanimously.

Ending

County staff said they will return to commissioners with final PCO paperwork and adjusted contract language reflecting the NemoQ choice for 10,000 texts per month and with any remaining closeout items for approval.