Commissioners approve $550,000 change order to accelerate jail air-handler repairs

NUECES COUNTY — County public works and contractor representatives told commissioners on May 24 that several air-handler units in the county jail were failing and that the fastest remedy would be a change order to install temporary units and complete permanent replacements.

Public Works and the contractor presented Change Order No. 5, which included the cost of storing temporary units in a connex container ready for rapid installation, premium-time labor to support off-hours work and added on-site management time. The total change-order request approved by the court was $550,000; auditor staff identified interest earnings in the capital projects fund sufficient to cover the cost.

Judge Connie Scott urged urgency and noted the public-safety and compliance stakes: "This is one of the most critical components of this job, and it is a vital piece for our jail and jail standards and everything else," she said. The contractor said temporary units were already delivered and that crews planned to start work the Tuesday after the holiday, with a schedule that would allow project staff to shift to the next priority if other units failed.

Why it matters: jail HVAC failures affect inmate welfare, compliance with detention standards and day-to-day operations; staff said one unit (7-3) had developed a coil leak that morning, illustrating the need to begin replacement work immediately.

Court action: the court approved Change Order No. 5 and authorized use of interest earnings from capital projects to fund the $550,000 cost; work was scheduled to begin the following Tuesday.

Next steps: Public Works will continue to coordinate weekly cadence calls with jail staff and the contractor and will notify the court if additional funds or amendments are required.