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Contractor: site conditions and schedule explain $2.7 million cost gap between two elementary projects
Summary
A contractor told the Marion County school board that differing site conditions, demolition and sinkhole mitigation explain about $2.7 million in extra costs at Winding Oaks vs. Ross Prairie elementary projects; trustees asked follow-up questions about prior change orders and deductive adjustments.
Michael Magamol, speaking for Aussie Construction, told the board that although the two elementary projects appeared similar on paper, Winding Oaks required substantial additional site work — clearing vegetation, demolition, sinkhole mitigation and removal of clay soils — and that those conditions, plus schedule compression that required weekend work, accounted for roughly $2.7 million in extra costs.
"These items alone added over $1,300,000 in site development costs to Winding Oaks as compared to Ross Prairie," Magamol said, and he added that schedule-driven overtime and a six-day workweek added roughly $1,400,000 in labor costs. In his remarks he emphasized that both projects were managed to a fixed delivery date and that site differences drove the cost delta.
Board members acknowledged the contractor's explanation but noted earlier and concurrent budget adjustments. Dr. Lisonbee Campbell flagged a previously reported $3,215,471.02 deductive change order on Ross Prairie; she asked for additional detailed reconciliation to explain the net cost difference after the Ross Prairie deduction. Chairman and other trustees clarified that the projected deductive change order had been included in earlier quoted figures and that additional change orders may still be pending.
Why it matters: the district is spending tens of millions on school construction and small differences in site conditions, schedule and contract change orders can materially change project budgets. Board members asked staff for more detailed follow-up and reconciliation of the two projects’ line-item costs.
Quotes from the record: "So even the buildings were not exactly the same. These items alone added over $1,300,000 in site development costs to Winding Oaks..." — Michael Magamol, Aussie Construction.
"We received information about about a $2,700,000 difference... I'm looking forward for another detailed conversation about a difference in the 3.2 that we approve this evening." — Dr. Lisonbee Campbell, board member.
Next steps: staff indicated they would provide additional detailed comparisons and that state audits and open-book reviews are part of project oversight.
