Range House project months behind schedule; county attorney involved after contractor problems

Story County officials discussed serious construction problems at the Range House during a Feb. 5 facilities budget work session, where facilities management described defective floor drains in restrooms, inadequate shower repairs and a largely unresponsive contractor.

"They kinda did a quick, uneffective repair in the showers and didn't address the rest of it. They've pretty much abandoned the project at this point," facilities management director Joby Brogdon said, describing repeated attempts to get the contractor to complete punch-list items. Brogdon said the county has withheld a portion of contract payments and has involved the county attorney to determine the lawful next steps; retained contract money remains available if the county needs to hire a separate contractor to finish repairs.

Bro gdon said the original completion date had been last June and the project slipped despite an extension for winter ground thawing. Because the building never reached "substantial completion," he said, the county paused some installations—including keyless entry and alarm systems—so as not to signal occupancy and potentially complicate a legal remedy against the contractor.

Staff told supervisors that the county will pursue appropriate remedies and that additional costs to hire another contractor would be paid out of remaining contract funds or via legal settlement, subject to counsel's advice. Brogdon said he will continue to update the board as conversations with attorneys and potential contractors progress.