Jurors debate change orders, insurance and schedule for North Cameron EOC; one change order removed for review

Porsche May Architects and parish staff briefed the Cameron Parish Police Jury on Dec. 1 about multiple change orders to the North Cameron Emergency Operations Center contract, explaining that manufacturer delays (cast stone, anchors) and utility issues (transformer, gas) had extended the project schedule and triggered added costs.

Architect Derek Porsche said some delays forced a contractor to extend an insurance premium; change order documentation shows a $1,761.97 increase that Porsche described as the contractor’s insurance premium extension tied to roughly two months of additional time. Staff said the change-order documentation contains dates and invoices supporting the delays and that the contractor provided communications showing repeated efforts to secure utility hookups.

Jurors debated responsibility for the additional expense. Several members argued that bidders commonly factor delay risks and insurance into their low bids and suggested those costs should not automatically fall to the parish. Staff and the architect said some delays were caused by manufacturers and utilities (CenterPoint, Jeff Davis Electric), not the contractor, and asked the jury to consider approving days that would protect the contractor from liquidated damages while staff completes punch-list work.

Specific change orders discussed included: cast stone delays (documented 54-day impact before roofing could proceed), a transformer delay (the need for permanent power to allow interior finishing) and dove-tail anchor backorders for mechanical hangers. Staff said much of the project remains on track and that with recent utility activity they are pursuing substantial completion in January but need jury direction on whether to approve change-order dollars and additional days. Because jurors raised concerns about the value of change order 14, staff agreed to remove that item from the current agenda for further review and return with clarified numbers.

The jury asked staff to provide a more detailed breakdown of architect fees tied to change-order increases (jurors discussed a roughly 6% architectural fee on increased construction costs) and to bring back clarifying documentation at the January meeting. No final approvals on disputed change-order amounts were made at the Dec. 1 meeting.