EDINBURG, Texas - Hidalgo county commissioners said they continue to assess the condition of their new courthouse in order to take additional appropriate and necessary actions to complete the project.
They say this includes looking at any and all available remedies under the law and the current contract.
“This is one of the largest and most needed projects in the County,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez.
“Unfortunately, overcoming hurdles is common with these types of projects. We will push forward and clear the path to complete this project, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience. We will get to the finish line.”
Construction of the new courthouse started in January 2019. It was supposed to open in late 2021 or early 2022. It is still not open.
Though a press release, Hidalgo County’s public relations office explained the reasons for the delay:
“In an effort to provide the public with the latest information on the Hidalgo County Courthouse project, Hidalgo County is providing a list of events that have transpired over the last two years.
“In 2018, Hidalgo County hired Morganti Texas to build the seven-story, 344,000-square-foot building designed to accommodate 31 courtrooms; the Hidalgo County Bar Association; a central utility plant; a security screening area; parking spaces; approximately a 700-person temporary detention center for inmate defendants; and District and County clerks’ offices.
"Jacobs Engineering was hired as the project manager to protect the interests of Hidalgo County. A project manager’s role is to be the Owner’s representative, and in this case, oversee the courthouse project and its respective superintendent(s) from conception to the finished structure, as well as communicate with both the construction professionals and the client, Hidalgo County.
“Despite the pandemic, construction of the courthouse was initially on budget and within the time limit allotted by contract to complete the project. However, in December of 2021, when the project was approximately 85 percent complete, the contractor Morganti requested additional time and committed to reaching substantial completion of the project by May 2022. Despite their commitment, Morganti failed to reach substantial completion and requested yet another extension until August 2022. Hidalgo County agreed to the prior extensions, but unfortunately progress on the project had become dramatically slower, with increased challenges in dealings with Morganti from May 2022. Morganti did not reach substantial completion in August, and they sent another request for an extension until October 2022, which the County contested.
“As a consequence of exterior envelope and several other system testing failures in November 2022, Hidalgo County hired an independent engineering firm to look into concerns regarding construction issues that are related to the exterior envelope of the current structure.
“That firm has provided an assessment report that has identified construction issues in the exterior envelope of the courthouse that must be addressed. While the interior of the courthouse is closer to completion, and despite the County’s effort to get Morganti to honor the contract and complete the project, Morganti continues to fail the County and has essentially stopped working on the project. In addition, the County is disputing Morganti’s billings, which the County contends are in violation of express provisions in the contract.
“The County of Hidalgo continues to assess the condition of the building in order to take additional appropriate and necessary actions to complete the New Courthouse project. That includes looking at any and all available remedies under the law and the current contract.
““This is one of the largest and most needed projects in the County,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez. “Unfortunately, overcoming hurdles is common with these types of projects. We will push forward and clear the path to complete this project, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience. We will get to the finish line.””
