The Coffey County Commission on Nov. 11 approved an amendment to the guaranteed maximum price for the countyourthouse and law enforcement center project to $29,999,410 to include the Phase 2 courthouse renovation and secure link work. The motion, moved by Commissioner McCurry and seconded by Andrew Ross, passed by voice vote.

Goldberg Group Architects and River City Construction presented a Phase 2 package that trims scope in several nonessential areas and applies unused allowances from Phase 1, yielding a Phase 2 GMP line item of $1,974,552 and keeping the overall program under the $30,000,000 cap voters approved. A board representative said the team "was able to finally get this within budget" and that unused Phase 1 contingency and allowances would be allocated to Phase 2 to close the gap.

The board also approved three construction change orders for the Law Enforcement Center project as presented by River City Construction: Change Order 45 (pod A lights/intercom and related document revisions with a $3,134 deduction from contingency), Change Order 46 (replacement of elevator sump pumps with related electrical routing revisions, net deduct of $1,735.49 after the contractor absorbed a restocking fee) and Change Order 47 (power to smoke dampers and related control work, deduct $50,349 from contingency). County counsel read the motion that tied the deducts to the project construction contingency rather than increasing the GMP, and the commission unanimously approved the package.

Architects and contractors described the primary cost-saving measures as reduced demolition, repurposing existing doors and limiting full gut renovations in noncritical storage and support areas. Project leads briefed commissioners on long-lead items (security doors and courtroom furnishings) and a six-month Phase 2 construction schedule that will be coordinated to minimize impact on court operations. An included $10,000 roof patch allowance was discussed; full roof replacement was identified as a future capital consideration and is not part of the Phase 2 GMP.

The board's vote to amend the GMP also included minor clerical corrections to the motion's date and explicit references to River City Construction
nd Goldberg Group documents dated in late 2025.

Next steps: the county will finalize AIA contract documents to reflect the Phase 2 add and begin ordering long-lead items once the notice to proceed is executed. Commissioners said they will continue to monitor contingencies and change orders as construction progresses.