Architect: Change order adds days and modest cost but stays within project budget

Eric Rivera, the architect consulting to Hansen Professional Services, told the Willacy County Commissioners Court on March 26 that Change Order #5 for the Willacy County Heritage & Wellness Center was an owner-requested relocation of a freestanding kitchen range.

Rivera said the work requires electrical, mechanical (ductwork) and cabinetry modifications and that the change order adds about $7,835 and 30 calendar days to the project schedule. He told the court that TDHCA preapproval had been received and that, with the change order, the project's estimated total would rise from $4,088,481.26 to about $4,096,316.26—still within the grant funding he described as supporting the project.

"This is kind of an owner requested change order," Rivera said, summarizing the scope and noting that the added ductwork section upstream would be abandoned in place but left available for future connections. Commissioners asked about site walk-throughs and were told Hansen staff and the consultant visit the site regularly for progress checks.

The court discussed the change order and, after questions were answered about schedule and scope, the motion to approve the change order was moved and considered as part of the agenda process.

Next steps: Hansen and county staff will continue weekly site visits as work progresses; the contract adjustment and schedule extension will be implemented with the contractor and reported in subsequent project updates.