Contractors say payment for Reyes Elementary construction long delayed

A school that started amidst controversy remains there. ABC-7 learned the contractors who worked on Reyes Elementary, Canutillo Independent School District’s newest elementary school, are still waiting to be paid.

Reyes Elementary recently made headlines for the massive flag mural that the community debated painting for months. But now nearly a year since the school was built, about 40 sub contractors are claiming they’re still waiting on the district to pay them.

“We’re kind of wondering why we can’t get our money,” said Drew Hawley, vice president of Diversified Interiors, Inc. “Our money on this job is about $140,000. That’s a lot of money.”

In 2013, Canutillo ISD hired VEMAC, Venegas Engineering Management And Construction, to manage the building of Reyes Elementary, a $24 million job. VEMAC hired Hawley’s company, along with about 40 other sub-contractors. More than two years later, VEMAC can’t get Canutillo to pay the final amount its owed, meaning it can’t pay companies like Hawley’s.

“I also live in the area,” Hawley said. “I live 600 yards down the street and it’s kind of tough to walk by that thing everyday and it’s done and those kids are occupying it and we can’t get paid.”

The money owed is the 10 percent retainage fee or somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million. That’s money Canutillo holds onto while they audit the work to make everything’s up to par, protecting the taxpayers dime. But the problem is, sub contractors feel Canutillo’s been holding on to it for far too long.

“$140,000 is a lot of money, it’s a lot of painted walls and a lot of ceilings dropped in,” Hawley said. “No was has produced anything telling us you need to fix this or that. We’ve done all those punch lists that we asked for we should be paid along with everybody else.”

Canutillo trustees point to the loss of three key staffers during and after construction, including the facility director. They say the loss contributed to the delayed audit, which is still in progress.

“It’s actually just not right to the guys who did the work,” Hawley said. “Fair is fair.”

Oscar Venegas, owner of VEMAC said he’s putting pressure on the district to get the funds released.

Canutillo ISD said in a statement, “We are actively working with all contractors to compensate them according to contract terms once outstanding deliverables are complete.”