Council tables $53,660 change order for police and fire station work, seeks more cost detail

The Aransas Pass City Council voted to table Change Order No. 1 to the Chesney Morales engineering contract — a $53,660 increase tied to windstorm certification for the police building and municipal court reroof and to an extension of the fire apparatus bay and additional design work.

City staff explained the original scope called for patching the existing roof rather than replacing it, and the windstorm certification request arose later, prompting the proposed change order. Contractors and councilmembers questioned why certification often required for reroofs (commonly triggered for work over 100 square feet) was not included initially; local contractors at the meeting said most bidders would anticipate windstorm certification in a reroof scope.

Councilmembers requested detailed cost breakdowns and clarification of what the $53,660 covers. Several councilmembers said the figures did not add up and asked staff and the engineer (on the phone) to return with more information; the council motioned to table the item until those answers are provided.

The item will return for future consideration after staff obtains detailed scope clarification and cost explanations from the engineer and the contractor.