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Committee approves change orders and $1.3M funding recommendation for Savings Center amid council concern
Summary
After extended debate about cost increases and use of Elevate contingency funds, the committee approved Change Order No. 2 to Stone's contract (exterior veneer and roof improvements) and an administration recommendation that Elevate front roughly $1.3M with naming-rights and venue revenue to reimburse Elevate.
The Tuscaloosa City Public Projects Committee approved a contested package of change orders for the Savings Center project after members raised questions about cost escalation and contingency risk.
Staff presented Change Order No. 2 to Stone’s building contract, describing two primary components: procurement and installation of exterior stone veneer and additional improvements to a second-floor roof area the team said became necessary after construction revealed deficiencies. Staff said material procurement and processing are complete and work is underway.
An administration representative recommended that Elevate front the initial construction cost, saying the up-front amount would be about $1,300,000 and that naming-rights revenue and event revenues generated by the venue would reimburse Elevate over time. The same presenter said that if funded as recommended, the Elevate contingency would drop from about $4.9 million to roughly $3.6 million.
A council member voiced concern about sudden changes in the budget, saying the budget ‘doubled in a matter of 24 hours’ (from $700,000 to figures above $1 million) and urged more time and possible separation of the change-order items so the council could consider financing approaches. Other council members and staff argued the work is time sensitive and would be more costly or disruptive if deferred.
The committee discussed that donor funds had previously been allocated to cover other savings center costs and that the project team expects naming-rights and event revenue to recoup Elevate’s initial outlay. Staff said multiple options had been considered, and that the higher figures discussed related to a different option than the $750,000 figure some council members believed they were reviewing.
After discussion, a motion to approve the change order carried. The transcript records council debate and approval but does not provide a roll-call vote with member-by-member tallies.
