Company paid extra for failing to meet courthouse construction deadlines

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A construction management company has received an extra $3.1 million in taxpayer money over the past seven years because it didn't complete construction of Kentucky courthouses on time.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Codell Construction collected extended-service fees on 17 of the 26 courthouse projects it managed since 2006. The newspaper cites documents from the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

Those $3.1 million in fees represent about 16 percent of the roughly $19 million paid to Codell so far in overall fees for the 26 courthouses.

Louisville construction attorney Bruce Stigger says the state court system's rules were "incredibly favorable" to construction managers.

An attorney for Codell says the construction delays weren't caused by the company. The company was entitled to the fees under the state's courthouse construction rules.

Kentuckians look to help OK storm victims