The owner’s representative reported progress on several ARPA-funded building projects in Oklahoma County on Nov. 21 and warned that recent tests on columns in the ICB remodel “are not looking favorable,” a development that could require adding structural steel and increase costs.

The report, delivered during the infrastructure meeting and the follow-up PBA session, said construction on the annex will resume the first week of December after abatement finishes and that final inspections for Metro 1 and Metro 2 elevators are expected the first week of December. Work on ICB elevators is scheduled to start around Dec. 15, and equipment deliveries for the projects were described as “still on track.” Speaker 2, identified in the transcript as the owner’s representative, said crews are progressing but that weather may hamper work in some areas.

The update included a number of schedule adjustments and specific items: the fifth floor’s completion was moved to March; the 11th floor work was finalized and will be removed from future lists because it is eligible for TIF reimbursement and will be submitted to the city; the court-clerk social-distancing area has interior finishes to wrap up with a posted completion target of March 22; and annex exterior work — including sidewalk preparation — is hoped to be finished by February. The transcript records a staff comment that there is “an agreement with the city for, I think it’s $5,000,000 worth of projects that we’ll get reimbursed for once they’re finished.”

On the ICB remodel, Speaker 2 said recent results on column testing were sent to engineers and that the preliminary view “is not looking favorable” for maintaining the columns as they are. Speaker 2 said engineers will examine the data further; adding structural steel was discussed as a possible solution. Speaker 1 asked what the proposed solutions were and warned about the potential cost of additional testing and structural work, saying staff needed the cost information before committing to further testing. No cost figures were provided in the meeting.

The PBA report also noted punch-list work on the sheriff’s side of the building (areas A, B and C) and said some interior-delivery delays — lockers, appliances and signage — are expected to push some items past Dec. 31, with installations anticipated to be wrapped up by January.

Speaker 2 described progress on the behavioral health services building — structural steel, roof decking, interior and exterior framing, and overhead mechanical rough-in — but said recent weather would likely delay some tasks. Questions from members sought additional estimates for removing site items such as planters; staff said they had one estimate and needed two more for competitive comparisons.

The body moved to receive the owner’s representative reports for both the infrastructure meeting and the PBA session, with motions and seconds recorded and affirmative votes noted. No citizen comments were recorded during either meeting.

Next steps noted in the meeting: engineers will further evaluate the ICB column test results; staff will obtain additional cost estimates and contractor bids where required; and the county will submit the finalized TIF-eligible projects to the city for reimbursement once complete.