Largo commission approves $500,000 contingency for Horizon project after fraught debate

The Largo City Commission voted 5–1 on March 3 to approve Change Order No. 10 to the Horizon construction contract, adding an estimated $500,000 in owner contingency to complete items that staff said remain on the project’s critical path and are necessary to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

The motion followed extended public comment and a series of questions from commissioners about why code‑required items were discovered late in the project. Jamie Robinson, a resident who said she had supported the Horizon project, urged the commission not to approve the request without a full accounting: “At some point, we have to stop treating change orders as routine and start asking hard questions,” Robinson said, calling the listed items “basic code compliance issues” and urging a breakdown of costs and responsibility before additional funds are authorized.

Staff and others on the dais pushed back on assigning immediate blame and described the contingency as necessary to clear final permit holds. Jerry Walozinski, director of engineering services, told the commission the agenda item “does not attribute blame to either the city, the designer or the construction team” and that staff will provide a detailed post‑completion accounting and attribution of specific items. Finance director Rebecca Spooler explained the funding will come from excess interest earnings on prior bond proceeds and would not require new borrowing.

Supporters of moving forward argued the funds are required to finish critical life‑safety work and that the contractor would not proceed without payment. Public commenter Greg Gardner said the contractor had already “forfeited $700,000” earlier and defended Biltmore’s work; others on the dais called for accountability and an audit.

Commissioners pressed staff for specifics about the change order, including whether the issues stemmed from design errors, construction mistakes, or inspection timing. Walozinski and other staff said many items were identified during permit inspections and, in some cases, required full replacement (for example a fire‑panel replacement) rather than a simple part swap.

After discussion and an assurance that staff will return with an audited accounting and attribution of defects and costs at project closeout, the commission approved the change order by roll call vote, 5–1. Commissioner Smith recorded a protest vote (no); commissioners Holmes and Smith had raised concerns during debate but the final tally was 5 in favor, 1 opposed.

The vote allows Biltmore to proceed with ordering parts and completing corrections needed for final inspections. Staff told the commission the administration has contracted a project accounting specialist and is auditing pay applications and contingency usage to trace how prior contingencies and change orders were applied to the Horizon project. The commission said it expects a detailed closeout report when work is complete.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the work necessary to obtain the certificate of occupancy and will return to the commission with a full accounting that will identify which corrections are attributable to design, construction, or other causes.