Letting the Diamondbacks Slide

Besides sending letters requesting payment, construction companies typically submit change orders when something unusual crops up during construction--such as a request to prepare a groundbreaking site.

The four change orders in the district files submitted by Ames Construction do not include any reference to the groundbreaking work. On three separate occasions, Williams angrily told New Times that no change order existed for the work done by Ames Construction at the groundbreaking ceremony.

"I've dealt with you openly, honestly and in good faith," Williams told New Times.

Late last week, New Times obtained a copy of a January 22 change order signed by Ames Construction and Huber, Hunt & Nichols, the construction manager, requesting payment in the amount of $6,384 for preparing the site "for the November 16, 1995, Groundbreaking Ceremonies." The change order is not in the county files.

When confronted Monday, Williams said he didn't know about the change order. "It hasn't been processed" by the stadium district, he says.

Williams says the change order may have been prepared before he contacted the Diamondbacks and received their assurance that they would pay the bill. Once the Diamondbacks agreed, the change order was never submitted to the district, Williams says.

Vanishing letters and missing change orders notwithstanding, Ames Construction is still waiting for someone to pay the bill.