Commission approves Change Orders 3 and 5 for new courthouse parking lot after site conditions review

Jackson County commissioners on Nov. 10 authorized Change Orders 3 and 5 for the new courthouse parking lot after staff presented site photographs and engineering findings showing deeper excavation than originally estimated.

Chair (Speaker 1) and project staff explained that contract allowances had assumed removal of 450 cubic yards, but drilling and early excavation found rock and a higher water table in parts of the site. Staff said some change‑order items were recommended for approval while others were rejected or deferred until the county and contractor agree on precise yardage and quantities.

"There was some rock that had to be removed... the amount of rock to be removed under this change order is under review to make sure we clearly understand how much was actually removed," the chair said while reviewing photos documenting recent excavation and backfill.

Staff described the next steps: run additional data conduit for employee card access, add gravel, install curbing and then pave. At the meeting staff said the new employee parking area has about 60 spaces and the larger parking configuration will reserve about 125 spaces for courthouse customers.

The commission voted to set aside rules and approved Change Orders 3 and 5 so the contractor can proceed on those scopes; other change‑order requests (including a proposal to replace an entire drainage run) were rejected or postponed for further review.

What happens next: staff will reconcile removed‑material quantities with the contractor and return remaining change orders for approval at a subsequent meeting.