Panel wants more time to plan Capitol repairs

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A nine-member panel charged with overseeing a $120 million renovation of the Oklahoma Capitol wants more time for a detailed investigation of the 100-year-old building’s interior needs.

The State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to ask the Legislature to delay until December 2015 the due date for a final report on the building’s interior.

State Capitol project manager Trait Thompson said the delay would give the construction team more time to adequately determine the size and scope of the project and look for unforeseen problems. The legislation authorizing the $120 million project called for the interior report to be completed in June.

State officials are expected to announce on Dec. 22 the vendor selected to complete repairs to the building’s exterior, which should begin in spring.