City Commissioners approved a $200,000 change order during their Oct. 15 meeting for the Civic Center court relocation project.

The project is moving the Municipal Court from the basement of the Civic Center to the Missouri Room on the upper level. The move will create two courtrooms to accommodate the second judge added by voters in 2022, plus additional office space.

City officials identified the court relocation as top priority project for federal COVID relief funds in 2022 and last year developed the design.

City approves Municipal Court relocation contracts

Commissioners approved a $2.19 million contract to Wadsworth Builders in March 2024. Construction began in July and will continue through the spring.  

The original project budget included some contingency funds but “as this building is over 80 years old, and this space has not been wholly remodeled, there have been some interesting discoveries within the floors, walls, and ceilings,” according to the staff report.

Sylvia Tarman, city ARPA manager, told commissioners that in one wall they intended to extend, they found a lead pipe that is nearly 300 feet and the rain leader from the roof. She said that pipe is tons of lead and would be a huge expense to cut and reroute the pipe.

City approves $2.19 million contract for Municipal Court relocation to Missouri Room

They also found in the ceiling that the original electrical lines were cut through blocks and covered over with concrete, rendering them essentially useless, as well as concrete floors that weren’t poured level when the building was constructed and footprints are visible.

It’s a great time capsule, Tarman said, but complicating the project.

She said that staff is working with Wadsworth and Cushing Terrell, the designer, to respond to the changing conditions.

Staff requested, and commissioners approved an additional $200,000 of ARPA funds for the project’s contingency to be able to approve design changes in real times to prevent major delays.

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Tarman said the action will also help staff ensure the entire ARPA balance is obligated by the Dec. 31 deadline rather than have to return any unobligated funds to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Tarman said any change orders will go through her office and the engineer for approval within the additional contingency budget.

City Commission OKs moving forward with Missouri Room renovation for courtrooms [2023]

The change brings the contract total to $2,398,175.