Committee approves multiple construction change orders across county projects

Dane County’s Public Works and Transportation Committee approved a slate of construction contract change orders and action items covering courthouse systems, the election center, the waste and renewables campus, and Northport deconstruction.

Todd (S2) explained a $26,000 change order for the courthouse chiller project after staff discovered the refrigerant detection panel was water‑damaged: "when we opened up the panel, we found that it was full of water. We don't know how it got full of water, but basically all the electronics were destroyed." The committee approved that action item.

On the election center project staff described switching communications wiring from CAT 6 to CAT 6a for better shielding and long‑term election security; members discussed higher material and termination costs but approved the change to meet security design standards. For the Waste & Renewables campus, staff presented elevator specification adjustments and several change orders to cover missed design items and IBC code changes; for Northport deconstruction, a waterline reroute around an existing tunnel raised questions about historic structures and bats, and staff reported DNR review found bats had not used the tunnel and that it will be sealed.

Several smaller change orders under $10,000 were also presented and approved, covering site grading, finishes, and wiring updates across county projects.