By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission decided not to hire a construction manager to oversee the county’s three major building projects underway.

“It’s not a good use of taxpayer dollars,” Chairwoman Barb Wasinger said during Monday night’s regular commission meeting.

“We already have architects hired for these projects,” agreed commissioner Swede Holmgren, “and the county needs to enforce our relationship with them.”

Wasinger directed county administrator Greg Sund to add the county to the construction meeting minutes distribution list. Sund told commissioners the meetings are “occurring about every three weeks, although early October rains caused delays in construction.”

Ellis County is in the midst of a courthouse/Law Enforcement Center remodel, adapting the former Commerce Bank on Main Street for administrative offices and constructing a new Emergency Services station at 22nd Street and General Hays Road.

Sund also reviewed eight change orders for the Administrative Center remodel as proposed by the contractor, Paul-Wertenberger.

“These are situations encountered by the contractor that could not be anticipated until after demolition was conducted in some areas of the building and additional needs identified following the bid letting process,” Sund explained.