Council seeks answers after staff flags $700K—6M+ in additional Justice Center invoices

County staff and council members spent a lengthy portion of the Dec. 9 meeting reviewing invoices and bond accounting tied to the Justice Center build-operate-transfer (BLT) project. A staff summary showed $771,004 in paid expenses categorized outside the BLT bond accounting and additional invoices that, combined with earlier change orders, could approach $7—6 million beyond the originally stated $59.1 million building cost.

Council members asked whether approved change orders or out-of-scope work (sprinklers, locks, drainage) explain the gap. Staff said some items were paid from bond proceeds while others appear as separate county-funded invoices; counsel advised reviewing the BLT contract and guaranteed maximum price to determine whether the county is contractually liable for the extra costs. One council member noted the county is a year past intended close-out with Bank of New York Mellon pushing for resolution.

Legal counsel and staff agreed to prepare a contract review and update for the January meeting so the council can determine exposure and next steps. Council members said they expected the contractor and county project managers to be asked for explanations of any change orders that exceed the BLT agreement.

Next steps: county legal counsel to review contract and produce a memo; staff to compile invoices and change orders for a January update and to invite contractor/project representatives if necessary.