Van Buren County Commission approves $76,470 change order for jail smoke-evacuation system, OKs jail camera purchase

The Van Buren County Commission voted Dec. 20 to approve a $76,470 change order to revise the smoke-evacuation system for the county administration and jail facility and to extend the construction schedule by two weeks.

The change traces to Committee B, where Allen Hill of Upland Design Group told commissioners that the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office required revisions to the smoke-evacuation system and specified special inspection and testing to certify the work. At Committee B, J. Cumby Construction requested the additional contract time and the change-order funds; the committee recommended approval to the full commission.

At the full commission meeting, Rip Van Winkle moved to approve the change order; Lesa Bouldin seconded. By roll call, all commissioners present voted yes: Lesa Bouldin, David Chandler, Joey Grissom, Hugh Hillis, William Maxwell, Mickey Robinson, Henry Seamons, Brian Simmons, Rip Van Winkle and Robert Van Winkle.

Separately, Sheriff Eddie Carter requested two additional surveillance cameras for the back of the new jail. Rip Van Winkle moved and Hugh Hillis seconded approval of a $4,278 change order to add the cameras, to be paid from the construction contract contingency; the commission approved that motion by roll call.

County officials said both costs will be covered from the contingency funds established in the original construction contract. County documents presented at the meeting indicate the smoke-evacuation change order stems from regulatory revisions required by the State Fire Marshal and that the surveillance cameras were requested by the sheriff’s office for additional coverage at the new jail.

The contractor (J. Cumby Construction) will implement the changes and the county will arrange the required inspections and testing before project closeout. The commission took no further action on the administration/jail project at the meeting.