After two closed sessions and an unusual teleconference in open session lasting into Thursday’s late night hours, the TCC board of trustees approved a $1 million change order allowing contractor Austin Commercial/Con-Real to continue construction of the now-officially named Trinity River East Campus.
The approved measure extends the construction manager’s general conditions until Feb. 28, 2010, when a guaranteed maximum price on the downtown Fort Worth project is calculated.
Board Members Bobby McGee and Joe Hudson, initially resistant to passing the measure, were concerned that the board had never approved some of the project’s past funding.
“This comes to the heart of the problem,” McGee said. “This is an extraordinary amount of money.”
After several minutes of discussion without resolution, Gwen Morrison, concerned for the project’s future, suggested immediate consultation with an attorney.
In an open session teleconference set up with TCC attorney Joe Davis in open session, both he and Interim Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley said construction on TR East Campus, already years behind schedule, could face more delays and possible cancellation if the measure did not pass.
"If you do not approve all these change orders, what you’re saying in essence to me is, stop the construction," Hadley said to board members.
The approved change order increased Austin’s total contract to $163.6 million, still below the $203 million budget originally approved by the board.
The board also approved change orders for Gideon Toal Architects and Tri-Dal Utilities.
The TR East Campus scheduled completion date is February 2011.
In other action, the board took its first step in appointing a permanent chancellor for the district, authorizing distribution of requests for proposals to executive search firms nationwide.
Board members or administrators did not say how long this initial phase would last.
The board also approved a $113,000 contract with 2L Construction to complete a jogging trail on South Campus, including installation of exercise stations and a high-water crossing.
Initial work on the relocation of the jogging trail was competed last year.
Appointments to tax increment financing boards in the cities of Fort Worth, Grapevine, Keller and Colleyville were also approved.
Board President Louise Appleman announced the board’s next meeting for Nov. 19.