Public Works committee refers courthouse repair dispute to counsel after contractor unpaid

The Public Works committee voted to refer a dispute over courthouse repairs and contractor payments to county counsel after staff reported multiple contractors abandoned sealant work and one local contractor said he completed work but has not received payment.

Cliff, a public works staff member, said an updated list of needed courthouse repairs has been circulating for three months and ‘‘several contractors backed out’’ of completing sealant and related work. Cliff told the committee that contractor Oscar completed assigned work and ‘‘still hasn't been paid’’ and that Oscar had been unable to reach the prime contractor by phone or e-mail.

Committee members discussed inspection reports and whether the prime contractor had fulfilled contract obligations. One member recommended the committee authorize counsel to pursue the matter; Mr. Taylor moved to turn the issue over to counsel and to forward a recommendation to the county commission. After brief discussion the motion carried with members responding in the affirmative.

The committee asked staff to obtain and deliver inspection reports (including McHenry’s recent walkthrough) and related documentation to support any legal review. Members said the next step is a written agenda item and recommendation to the county commission and to provide counsel the evidence assembled by staff.

The committee did not set a timeline for counsel’s review during the meeting; staff said they will provide the inspection reports and an updated list of outstanding repairs at the next steps of the process.