Coffey County approves jail change orders, $1.876 million payout to River City Construction

Coffey County commissioners voted to approve multiple change orders on the county's Law Enforcement Center and to authorize payment of $1,876,041.74 to River City Construction LLC, the county's construction manager.

The motion, read into the record by a county official, enumerated change order 24 (skylight-sizing and related drywall/framing work) and associated potential items; change order 37 (masonry/grouting) and change order 43 (increasing certain stud sizes); credit potential change order 44 (removing drywall behind rear chases) of $7,424; change order 25 (signage and seals) for $23,239; and change order 26 (credit of $17,301 for removing two air-handling units), plus smaller additions including a sink and additional fire-alarm panel work. The board approved the package with the clerk directed to sign the change orders as presented.

Project representatives and county staff described why specific changes were needed: skylight adjustments to meet ambient-light requirements for detention areas; larger studs and additional grouting where wall geometries changed; and a remote fire-alarm annunciator to link the new dispatch center to the existing courthouse panel. County staff also pointed to credits that partially offset new costs.

River City Construction's monthly pay application No. 12, covering work completed through Nov. 30, 2024, was presented and reviewed line-by-line. The application totals $1,876,041.74 (with retainage reflected in the backup) and covers subcontractor payouts for masonry, steel, framing/drywall, roofing, glazing, mechanical, plumbing and security-cell installation. After discussion the commission approved the payment to fund the ongoing work, directing that funds come from the jail construction project fund (Fund 111).

Board members emphasized project oversight and transparency. As one commissioner put it during the meeting, "we told the taxpayers that that this was gonna be a $30,000,000 project, not 30,000,001, and we're holding them to the fire," a remark made while stressing that staff and the contractor have been scrutinizing line items and credits closely.

Next steps: staff will finalize paperwork and post the approved change orders and payment records to the county project file. The construction team said exterior finish work and interior drywall/taping will continue through the winter and into the spring as weather permits.