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Commissioners pause approval of Phase 2 payouts, ask for itemized breakdowns of mobilization fees
Summary
Board members reviewed payout request No. 27 for the Phase 2 geostructure project and expressed concern about large mobilization fees and insufficient itemization; they asked staff to obtain detailed breakdowns and to invite contractor Cole to next week’s meeting before approving the payout.
Commissioners reviewed payout request No. 27 covering multiple subcontractors on the county’s Phase 2 geostructure project and decided to postpone final approval pending additional documentation.
Chair summarized the payout schedule, noting retainage and current payment amounts for firms including Iburger Construction, IBC Carpentry, Silver Glass, Pig Industry Walls and Ceilings, Poly Jail, McElroy and Shelly Electric. Tom and other staff described substantial progress on site but flagged change‑order line items where supporting detail was missing.
“On Page 2… the entire mobilization fee is $74,140 net,” a commissioner said, expressing sticker shock and asking whether that fee is typical given where subcontractors are coming from and what equipment they must bring. Another commissioner recommended staff call Cole and obtain a breakdown so the board could properly evaluate the payout rather than approving today.
Staff committed to ask Cole and Jelay (the listed subcontractor) for itemized spreadsheets that identify mobilization, demolition, equipment, material, labor and bond components for the change‑order line items in question. The board agreed to wait until those details are provided and to invite Cole to explain the charges at next week’s session.
Why it matters: The decision to delay approval protects the county from paying poorly documented change orders and gives commissioners an opportunity to verify work completed and costs charged before releasing retained funds.
What’s next: Staff will request itemized supporting documentation from the prime and subcontractors and schedule the contractor’s representative to appear next week to answer questions; the payout will be revisited then.
