NATCHEZ &045; While crews from Wilmar Construction were busy Tuesday on renovations to Memorial Hall, city officials were next door discussing a change order for the project.

During their Tuesday meeting, aldermen gave their approval to a $133,995 change order on the renovation of Memorial Hall as a federal courthouse.

But city officials also directed City Engineer David Gardner to present the item to the Adams County Board of Supervisors as well, since the city, county and federal agencies jointly funded the project.

To prevent future delays in the project, City Attorney Walter Brown suggested Gardner ask county supervisors to allow him to forego their permission in the future on change orders under a certain amount.

&uot;I feel we have a moral obligation. Š The (county) needs to be included,&uot; Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith said.

Gardner noted that the project contract is between the city and contractor Wilmar Construction, not the county.

In addition, he noted that the city must finish its part of the project by June so the U.S. General Services Administration can take over the project in June, during its current fiscal year.

The current change order includes such work as masonry repairs, replacing ceiling joists, installing a zinc roof shield, installing granite steps and replacing some windows with doors, among other things.

By the time the project is through, about $300,000 to $400,000 in additional change orders will be needed, Gardner said.

But he said that since bids for the project came in lower than expected, the change orders will not cost the city, county or federal government any additional money.

Late last year, aldermen voted to accept Wilmar’s bid of $856,000 for the city’s part of the project &045; well under the city’s estimate of $1.2 million or more.

Funds the city is using for its portion of the work include $1 million from the U.S. Marshals Service, $900,000 each in city and county bond proceeds and a $400,000 state Archives and History grant.

The second phase will be done with $1.25 million in funds from the federal Administrative Office of the Courts’ discretionary fund.