HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After spending several meetings discussing what were two change orders proposed by the contractor doing the courthouse renovation project, Reno County Commissioners decided that such a change orders were not necessary and denied them during Tuesday’s agenda session.
The change order from Pishny Contractors was for anchoring the facade of the courthouse down to the structure and securing some of the stone work at the top of the building. The decision comes after discussion between local engineer Brent Engelland and WJE, a consulting firm out of California who specializes in seismic activity and the effect it has on buildings.
There has been some discussion over whether the seismic activity over the years has contributed to the deterioration of the stonework on the courthouse exterior or not. According to WJE, the repairs proposed by Pishny are not related to earthquake damage. WJE says change Order 2, the stone fascia anchorage work, is a seismic improvement that is beyond the work that would be required by code. Change Order 3, the dome slab replacement, is work associated with non-earthquake related deterioration and is a repair that is beyond the scope of in-kind repairs that would be required by code. The total cost of both change orders is more than $1.66 million. While the commission does want the work to be done in the interest of the building's preservation, Commissioner Ron Sellers said the project needs to be done eventually.
“I don’t think we should forget this matter, but I think we should delay this matter until the dome is done, Pishny is off the site and get competitive bids,” Sellers said. “ I don’t see this as an issue we’ve got to deal with today...It’s an issue with long-term maintenance.”
Sellers also let it be known he has seen enough of Pishny Contractors.
“From my standpoint I’m not willing to accept another bid from Pishny,” Sellers said. “I’m tired of them being here year after year. The floor of the courthouse, the front yard looks terrible. I wouldn’t approve another contract with them.”
Commissioner Ron Hirst echoed Sellers feelings but wanted to make sure that the anchoring project did happen in the near future.
“If we put this out for bid there has to be a deadline and a penalty phase, and somebody looking after it,” Hirst said. “This has gone on way way too long…I’d like to get started on it, I would like to see some proposals so we have an idea.”
Engelland, who has had a different opinion on the project over the anchoring of the facade, said he realizes the immense cost of the project and said that he understands WJE’s findings. He did point out that a letter would be coming to the commission noting that his firm is no longer liable for the performance of the stone veneer over time in order to protect his business from any future liability or legal action if the stone work should fail.
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