Requesting approval to Re-Authorize Urban County Program Director to approve certain Change Orders on Urban County projects.

On January 22, 2002, the Commissioners' Court granted authority to Urban County Interim Director Alan Kamasaki to approve Change Orders involving an increase or decrease of $50,000 or less and for Change Orders requesting additional time for completion.

The County of Hidalgo Procurement procedures, Section III, No. F(B), permits as follows:

"If a Change Order involves an increase or decrease in cost of $50,000 or less, the Commissioners' Court may grant general authority to an employee to approve the change orders.  However, the original contract price may not be increased by more than 25 percent unless the change order is necessary to comply with a federal or state statue, rule, regulation, or judicial decision enacted, adopted, or rendered after the contract was made.  The original contract price may not decreased by 18 percent or move without the consent of the contractor."

The Urban County Program is requesting that such a grant of general authority be made to Director Diana R. Serna, under the conditions listed above, and for Change Orders requesting additional time for completion.  This would help to speed up project spending and completion, while Commissioners' Court would still retain responsibility for any proposed major changes.