Officials with Texas County and City of Houston are assessing their association with a Rolla construction firm after its failure to perform a Licking job. A check also shows several suits filed in court against Hogan Construction Co. on unrelated projects.
The company, a third-generation owned firm, is one of the main subcontractors on the Texas County Justice Center. The City of Houston executed a $280,549 contract with it for work at the Houston Municipal Airport. Both entities said they are assessing the situation after the firm’s hometown newspaper reported that its office real estate was for sale, and it appeared unable to complete a downtown revitalization contract for Licking.
Texas County Presiding Commission Don Shelhammer said Friday that the county’s construction management firm, Septagon Construction of Sedalia, was studying the issue. Shelhammer said Hogan was set to be on the justice center construction site beginning next month.
“They haven’t performed any work nor have we paid them any money. We have a $1 million plus bond for their work, so we are covered there, but we don’t want any delay on the construction schedule,” Shelhammer said.
Subcontractors on the $200,000 Licking project halted work after saying they weren’t getting paid. More than three weeks ago, workers left. Included were employees from C & H Excavating and some bricklayers.
At Licking, a company official e-mailed the city and said the firm’s owners had not been in the office for three weeks, and he could not guarantee that the personnel or equipment needed to finish the job would be available.
Houston City Administrator Bill Bates said Tuesday he is working with the city’s engineering firm about the status of the airport project partially financed by a Missouri Department of Transportation grant. At the Houston City Council meeting on Monday, Bates said the city has a signed contract with Hogan, and it has received a bond for Hogan’s work. Based on advice from its engineering firm, the city will give Hogan 10 days to mobilize and 60 days to complete the effort. If it fails to perform, then the city will be working with the firm’s bonding company to see that the effort is completed.
In May, BBR Masonry filed suit in federal court seeking payment for work at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Shopping Center. The construction company’s bonding firm, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., also is named. A check of other documents show that the state began seeking employment taxes last year. Paperwork in circuit court shows suits filed against the firm by several companies – the most recent Aug. 10.
Formed in 1948 by family patriarch Joe Hogan, the firm has constructed projects throughout south-central Missouri, including in Texas County. Calls to Hogan Construction Co. on Monday went unanswered. A Century 21 First Choice Realtors “For Sale” sign is posted in front of the office at 100 Lover’s Lane. It lists for $260,000. An adjacent Hogan home is priced at $240,000.