Change Orders

By STEVEN T. DENNIS Staff Writer County Administrator Rodney Shoop will retain his authority to approve change orders on county projects without coming to the Washington County Commissioners in most circumstances. Commissioner Ronald L. Bowers questioned why Shoop was allowed to approve large change orders without obtaining approval. Shoop said he's had the authority for a couple of years to approve change orders unless they exceed the budget for a particular project.

Construction of the new Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown is scheduled to be finished around the first week of May, with the library probably opening in June, said Joseph Kroboth III, the county's public works director. Those dates could change depending on construction progress, he said. The project has already experienced some delays. The latest cost estimate is $17.2 million, including approximately $1.2 million in approved change orders that account for slightly more than half of the project's contingency budget, Kroboth said Wednesday.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- It was supposed to take about 15 months to renovate Washington County Courthouse. But four years after the project began, work continues -- extended by change orders and a host of problems encountered along the way. When the work started in 2004, the plan was to add space for holding cells and a fifth Circuit Court judge. The cost was estimated at $4.19 million. Since then, the county has approved 71 construction change orders to deal with several issues, from asbestos in the building's upper floors to repairs in the alley outside to security enhancements triggered by a courthouse shooting more than 600 miles away.

Financial audit report is positive BOONSBORO - A financial audit report of the Town of Boonsboro received Monday from Smith, Elliott, Kearns & Co. shows the town in good financial standing. Mayor Charles F. "Skip" Kauffman Jr. said the town is financially "strong" and has $17 million in assets. "We still have to be very, very cautious with our spending because we have debt out there coming before us," he said. Kauffman was referring to debt incurred from a large state-mandated water treatment plant project and other items.

The renovation of James Buchanan High School is on target to start Jan. 11. The Tuscarora School Board on Monday approved $14.2 million worth of contracts for the project, which will upgrade the high school's mechanical systems but not expand the building. Bids came in lower than estimated, according to Hal Hart, of architectural firm Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates. The base bids, of $13.7 million, were 6 percent lower than the maximum set by the school board, Hart said.

HAGERSTOWN - Renovations to the Washington County Courthouse that originally were expected to be finished by December 2005 should be done by January, said Gary Rohrer, Washington County's director of special projects. The now 5-year-old project has been delayed by design changes to enhance safety, unexpected asbestos and more than 60 change orders. The courthouse renovations first were designed in 2002, and construction began in September 2004, according to county documents that Rohrer provided.

Renovations to the Washington County Courthouse that originally were expected to be finished by December 2005 should be done by January, said Gary Rohrer, Washington County's director of special projects. The now 5-year-old project has been delayed by design changes to enhance safety, unexpected asbestos and more than 60 change orders. The courthouse renovations first were designed in 2002, and construction began in September 2004, according to county documents that Rohrer provided.

A caustic soda underground storage tank at Hagerstown's sewer plant needs to be replaced before it becomes an environmental hazard, Water Pollution Control Manager Rick Thomas said. The tank under a building at the plant off Frederick Street could leak, so Thomas said he wants to replace it with a steel tank inside the building. Caustic soda is used to control the acidity in the sewer plant. Thomas said he doesn't yet know how much the new tank will cost. City Council members unanimously approved $28,734 in change orders for a plant upgrade on Tuesday.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A final list of construction issues for the Waynesboro Area Senior High School is being developed, with many of those repairs planned for this summer when students aren't in the building, school officials said Tuesday. "Substantial completion is done," Business Administrator Caroline Dean said, saying that point was reached months ago. School leaders broke ground for the $46 million renovation and expansion project in January 2007. Construction added more than 100,000 square feet, including a new 1,600-seat auditorium and three-court gymnasium.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - After many changes during construction, Berkeley Senior Services is in the unusual position of being under budget on the $1.1 million senior center expansion and renovation project, Executive Director Eileen Dooley said Thursday. Dooley went before the Berkeley County Commission to help explain more change order requests on the project, which the commission helped fund by requesting grant money and pitching in $40,000 from its coffers, she said. Because each change in plans has to go before the commission, it may seem like more than normal, but it's been about average for such a project, Dooley said.

Construction of the new Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown is scheduled to be finished around the first week of May, with the library probably opening in June, said Joseph Kroboth III, the county's public works director. Those dates could change depending on construction progress, he said. The project has already experienced some delays. The latest cost estimate is $17.2 million, including approximately $1.2 million in approved change orders that account for slightly more than half of the project's contingency budget, Kroboth said Wednesday.

Construction of the W. Randy Smith Recreation Center is under way, but public recreation officials are struggling to close a gap in funding that still is needed for the $2.1 million project. R. Stephen “Steve” Catlett, executive director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board, told board members Tuesday that he still hopes to net additional private and state funding to close the gap, which has grown a bit larger because of change orders. “I don't know if anybody understands how tight this (project)

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A final list of construction issues for the Waynesboro Area Senior High School is being developed, with many of those repairs planned for this summer when students aren't in the building, school officials said Tuesday. "Substantial completion is done," Business Administrator Caroline Dean said, saying that point was reached months ago. School leaders broke ground for the $46 million renovation and expansion project in January 2007. Construction added more than 100,000 square feet, including a new 1,600-seat auditorium and three-court gymnasium.

The renovation of James Buchanan High School is on target to start Jan. 11. The Tuscarora School Board on Monday approved $14.2 million worth of contracts for the project, which will upgrade the high school's mechanical systems but not expand the building. Bids came in lower than estimated, according to Hal Hart, of architectural firm Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates. The base bids, of $13.7 million, were 6 percent lower than the maximum set by the school board, Hart said.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- The first draft of the Waynesboro Area School Board's 2009-10 budget projects $1.4 million in spending beyond the $49.3 million expected in revenues. Board members acknowledged Tuesday they could eliminate the deficit in three ways -- raise property taxes, draw down a $2.9 million savings account or with a combination of the first two options. But first, they plan to join administrators in taking a hard look at costs and ways they can be cut further. "I've already gone through and identified things I don't think will hurt the educational process too bad," Superintendent James L. Robertson said, adding he will soon meet with building principals to look for further cuts.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Waynesboro Area School Board members on Tuesday got answers to a lot of their questions regarding a $4 million deficit with the high school expansion and renovation project. What they didn't determine is how they'll pay for it. The school board borrowed $40 million for the $46 million project, which is slated to wrap up this fall. Board members contend they were told the $6 million difference could be found through interest and "value-added engineering," a method of saving money during construction.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Decades-old portions of Waynesboro Area Senior High School are being renovated in the final stages of a $46 million construction project formally launched in January 2007. The old gymnasium has been converted into two floors of classrooms, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Adams said. The top floor opened for classes in the second semester, while electrical and duct work is preparing the bottom floor for technology education space, he said. The new cafeteria opened when students returned from their winter break.

The Washington County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a change order of about $140,000 for additional expenses related to a bridge over U.S. 11 that is part of a runway rehabilitation project at the Hagerstown Regional Airport. Most of the additional expense came from high asphalt prices and improvements to a drainage ditch beside U.S. 11, according to a letter from Airport Director Carolyn S. Motz. The change order also covers wing wall extensions, message board rental charges and miscellaneous paving work, according to the letter.

Financial audit report is positive BOONSBORO - A financial audit report of the Town of Boonsboro received Monday from Smith, Elliott, Kearns & Co. shows the town in good financial standing. Mayor Charles F. "Skip" Kauffman Jr. said the town is financially "strong" and has $17 million in assets. "We still have to be very, very cautious with our spending because we have debt out there coming before us," he said. Kauffman was referring to debt incurred from a large state-mandated water treatment plant project and other items.

HAGERSTOWN -- The renovation of the Washington County Courthouse Annex building is nearing completion, with less than 1 percent of the work left to be done, Washington County officials said last week. Separate construction projects to replace the roof and enhance security also are ending, with all work scheduled to be finished by early January 2009. When the work is done, it will mark the end of an eventful four years of construction at the courthouse marked by setbacks and changes that have delayed work and driven up the cost of the project.