Daggett County board allows light- and tile-work change orders to proceed, tables bundled change order over elevator fuel surcharge

The Daggett County Municipal Building Authority on June 30 issued a construction change directive allowing work on two subcontractor items tied to the county’s clinic/community center project while deferring a bundled change order that includes an elevator vendor’s fuel surcharge.

Jesse, the project manager, told the board the packet shows Change Order 14 as a bundled item and that it includes three proposed change orders. "I'll just real quickly touch on the 3 PCOs," Jesse said, describing PCO 26 as an unanticipated fuel cost claim from the elevator subcontractor, PCO 29 as work to shorten and modify a light pole so it complies with Bridger Valley clearance requirements, and PCO 30 as a tile change (from luxury vinyl tile to ceramic) in a wet area that the project lead recommended because it is more appropriate for the location.

Board members pressed for documentation for the elevator vendor’s fuel claim and warned about setting a precedent for subcontractors to pass fuel costs through change orders. One board member said, "My only problem is I set the precedence," when asked whether approving the surcharge could invite similar claims. Jesse said the subcontractor provided a letter but that staff would research the vendor contract and the documentation with the general contractor and report back.

To allow work to continue while that review is completed, the chair moved to issue a construction change directive for PCO 29 and PCO 30 and to table approval of Change Order 14 pending additional review of PCO 26. Another member seconded the motion. The board then voted in favor with those present responding "Aye," approving the construction directive and tabling the bundled change order.

The packet lists the bundled change-order amount as "4,019 and $87.55" and the project manager described the elevator portion as about $1,725 and the electrician portion as about $905 (the transcript records the electrician amount as "$905 and 5¢"). Jesse said the tile change fit within the project contingency and was a product recommendation by the tile contractor for a wet area. Staff said they would verify contract language on subcontractor markup and return with more documentation on PCO 26.

The board took no further action on the bundled change order at the June 30 meeting; staff will report back next week with the contract review and supporting documentation for the elevator vendor’s claim.