Atascosa County approves change order for tax office renovation

Atascosa County commissioners on an administratively called motion approved a change order for the county tax office addition and renovations, revising the construction contract to $1,146,105.14, county officials said.

The change order amends a contract the commissioners awarded Dec. 23, 2024, to Holtz Adams Construction Consulting LLC for $1,097,605.14, to be paid from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Tracy Burrow, County Auditor, read the change-order summary during the meeting and said the proposed work would include multiple items and adjustments to the original contract.

The change orders listed work items including new floor outlets and an upgraded power panel for workstations and windows, concrete work at the entry ramp, removal of a CMU (concrete masonry unit) interior wall and demo and disposal, concrete floor patching, counter transition and closet work, cove base, lobby rear entry tile, wall-panel repairs, and temporary wall rental. The meeting packet listed an estimated increase figure and credits that together produced the revised contract amount presented to the court.

A county staff speaker identified as Mr. Vickers told the commissioners the project had produced some unforeseen conditions once work began, including an unexpected concealed exterior wall consisting of CMU and brick veneer behind existing wood paneling. "When you walked in the building, what you saw on both sides was wood paneling, so you don't expect to find a double wall of masonry inside," Vickers said, describing that removal and cleanup as among the larger unanticipated items.

Vickers also said a previously listed cove base was later determined to be in the original scope and was removed from the change order, producing a roughly $8,600 reduction in the proposed increases for outlets and panels. He noted tile work, wall repairs where fur-downs are lower than the finished ceilings, and water damage on the east side at the drive‑through as other items that required attention.

Commissioner Gillespie moved to approve the change order; Commissioner Pavelic seconded. The presiding court announced, "All those in favor? That motion carries," and the court proceeded to the next item. The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally or recorded individual votes in the transcript provided.

The action leaves the revised construction contract at $1,146,105.14, according to the materials read into the record. The contractor named in the original award is Holtz Adams Construction Consulting LLC, and the county said the work is funded from ARPA funds allocated for the project. No additional schedule or completion-date information was provided in the transcript.