The Wilson County commission approved allocating $3,000,000 from Fund 189 to a spendable line so staff can solicit bids for the final construction phase of a county building project. The director said engineers completed plans and the city approved the site plan and drainage, and staff will bid the work with a cap of $3,000,000; if bids exceed that cap, the county will pause and implement cost reductions or redesigns.

“The plans are done. Engineers have done all their studies. The city has approved our plan and our site plan and our water drainage plan,” the director said during the meeting, describing the pre-bid work. The director said the architect agreed in writing to redraw plans at no additional design fee if the bids come in over budget and require reductions.

Staff reported that a local contractor provided market-based cost estimates and that the current market is volatile, so final bid prices may change; the director described the county as “right at the top of our budget.” The director also reported an unassigned fund balance of $14,800,000 as of January and said allocating $3,000,000 would place money in a spendable line so bidding could proceed without delay. The commission approved the allocation by voice vote.

The meeting record shows the allocation is intended solely to permit solicitation of bids; the project will not proceed beyond contract award unless the commission approves a contract within the $3,000,000 cap or directs redesigns. Staff and the architect discussed bidding instructions and allowed alternatives to reduce cost if necessary, and the director said certain city code plumbing items were under review to determine whether specifications could be reduced.