County Building Costs Mounting

More than a half-million dollars worth of change orders were approved today for the Ward County Office Building that's under construction.

The cost of the building is still under the planned $19.2 million plan -- but JLG architect Don Davison says there is only about a $20-thousand dollar window before the project is over budget.

Contractors are working to save money where they can -- including a $60-thousand dollar savings by modifying the finish on the pre-cast concrete walls.

Davison says big area for spending increases were fire code requirements and social service department modifications.

Following a city of Minot inspection -- fire code compatible elevator parts were ordered at an additional cost of $86-thousand.

Social Services will occupy the third and forth levels of the new building -- that department has under gone several staffing changes since the building was first designed.

Security and additional staff requirements added up to a change order of $221-thousand.

Davison says the changes were implemented before the cost amounts were known in order to meet the November first deadline.

He says many of the cost estimates were reported yesterday --- today's special meeting was the first the county commissioners had heard of the budget changes.

(Devra Smestad, Ward County Auditor) "So technically, we just lost all of our contingency going forward?"

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County Building Costs Mounting