Building Corporation approves payments

The Greene County Building Corporation, meeting in regular session Wednesday morning, approved payment of January claims totaling $264,816.28 relating to the courthouse renovation/addition project.

The largest share of the outlay went to project general contractor Weddle Brothers Construction Co., of Bloomington, which received $209,427.50. This total includes a change-order amounting to $36,900. Of that amount, $16,000 was designated as related to damages done to the project when the foundation shifted in January 2003 ---- causing an extensive delay and added reinforcement work to the project, according to project manager Jim Corey.

The Weddle claim is also for concrete work, installation of grade beams and the starting of steel erection at the site. In addition, the claim includes the cost of subcontractor electrical work, Corey said.

The Indianapolis law firm of Drewry Simmons Voorehm ---- hired by the commissioners and building corporation after the foundation damage first surfaced in early 2003 ---- was paid $24,963.96. That expense was all related to the civil lawsuit that was filed against the project's architect and engineering firm on behalf of the Building Corporation and the Greene County Commissioners on Dec. 30, 2004, according to commissioner's attorney Marilyn Hartman.

"That's for this last month because of the lawsuit filed in December," Hartman stated.

Hartman explained that Drewry Simmons Voorehm ---- recognized legal experts in the field of construction litigation, have been paid an average of $8,000 monthly since they were contracted by the county commissioners in early 2003 to represent the county's interests in any litigation related to the courthouse project.

The bill for the month of December was higher than normal because of extensive preparation work that had to be done to file the civil lawsuit, Hartman said.

The Hartman & Paddock law firm of Bloomfield was paid $7,460.66 as two-month plus claim for its legal work ---- also all relating to the filing of the litigation against United Consulting Engineers and DLZ Indiana LLC, both of Indianapolis and geotechnical consultants Alt & Witzig Engineering, Inc. of Carmel. The billing covered the months of November, December and half of January.

Hartman explained that since the project began in 2002 her law firm has been paid $90,255.36 related to the bond issuance, administration of the building corporation and litigation relating to the structural damage on the courthouse building.

Hartman & Paddock received $50,000 for the bond issuance and building corporation administration on Oct. 8, 2002. On Nov. 18, 2003 the building corporation paid a claim totaling $21,835 that covers the period January to October 2003. On Aug. 25, 2004, another claim in the amount of $7,263.70 was paid that covered the period November 2003 through July 2004. On Nov. 17, 2004, a claim of $3,696 was approved which covered legal work done from August through most of November ---- all related to the litigation.

Other claim payments approved Wednesday were a $4,735.16 monthly fee to project manager Jim Corey; $11,022.50 to Monroe County Bank as monthly project retainage; and $7,208.05 to Safeway Services, Inc.

Corey updated the members on the construction project and reported to the board that recent progress on the site is encouraging.

Concrete forming work has been completed and at least a dozen structural steel columns have been erected on the Greene County Courthouse renovation/addition site since the beginning of the week.

Corey said he is pleased with the recent progress on the building and is encouraged by the pace of the work.

"Whaley Construction is completing the remainder of the first elevator shaft. The final grade beam was poured last week and they are going to strip forms today," Corey said. "We really are coming along. Considering it was 10 degrees (Tuesday), things are moving very well.

"We're moving more and more. I'm pleased."

In other action, the three-member Building Corporation voted to retain its officers for another year.

Amos Musselman, of Newberry, will serve as president and David West, of Linton, vice president.

The board also voted to keep its regular monthly meetings on the third Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. An exception was made for the March meeting, which was scheduled for Thursday, March 24.