By Emily Younker
eyounker@joplinglobe.com
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The City Council and the builder of the new community center wrestled Tuesday night over how to proceed with the project after the contractor asked for a contract extension of 56 days.
Tony Smith, vice president of operations for Larry Snyder and Co., of Ozark, said the company since Nov. 16 had tallied 56 days in which at least 60 percent of the work that was scheduled for that day could not be completed because of rain, snow or other weather conditions.
He asked the council to consider adding 56 days to the company’s contract beginning April 1. A penalty of $500 per day would otherwise be assessed against the company.
Smith told the council that the delays were not the result of “neglect or not caring. It’s been weather. We’ve fought that since the end of October.”
Some council members were unhappy that work on the building has been drawn out longer than planned.
“I don’t feel like the city ought to eat everything,” said Councilwoman Dee Lynn Davey. “I know there has been weather, but you build that into a contract. I just kind of feel like the company needs to give a little bit here, too.”
Smith also asked the council to authorize $31,980 for a plastic material that would allow the company to proceed with construction of the parking lot and street despite wet soil conditions. He said the material, which he called a geogrid, would allow construction of the lot to begin almost immediately.
He said that if he was given the geogrid, the company probably wouldn’t need all 56 additional days to work on the building.
Under a suggestion by Davey, the council granted the contractor 28 weather days. The panel also agreed to purchase the geogrid.
A formal ordinance approving the change order would still have to be approved by the council, though Smith told council members to consider the agreement done.
“I’d move forward under those orders, absolutely,” he said.
Smith said the building last month was at least 79 percent complete. He said he thinks it will be 95 percent complete by April 1.
Work on the building, which voters approved through a $4.1 million bond issue in April 2008, began in early 2009. Because of several change orders, the total cost of the contract now stands at $4.26 million.
The center at 303 N. Main St. will house City Hall, a senior center, a gymnasium and meeting rooms.
In other business Tuesday night, the council approved a $146,000 purchase of new software for utility, tax, payroll and accounting operations from Tyler Technologies Inc. of Lubbock, Texas.
Police car
The Carl Junction council gave the go-ahead for the Police Department to purchase a new police car from Carthage Ford for $20,230 after a $5,300 trade-in.
