MDI recommended for veterans office expansion; county can fund project from reserves without borrowing

County staff recommended the MDI construction bid for the Veterans Services Office expansion (the former Pizza Hut space) and related renovations at Sycamore Square after an eight‑bid solicitation produced bids from $356,290 to $783,506.

Budget committee members said the lowest bidder did not supply required product and vendor documentation within a 24‑hour period and that Rudy, the county's reviewer, recommended disqualification; staff then recommended considering the next lowest responsive bidder, MDI. The MDI base bid would cover the VSO portion at $411,374.56 and the full project total, including alternates for the existing office upgrades, would be $571,007.86. Committee members noted contingency allowances are included in bids to cover unforeseen conditions during demolition and renovation.

Finance staff reviewed reserve balances and said the county has sufficient fund balance to pay the VSO construction portion without borrowing. The VSO reserve had approximately $16,009 remaining after architect fees; county general fund balances were presented at about $10.75 million, and the Sycamore Square reserve could cover the $160,411.62 share of the project. A budget committee member said, "If you go with MDI to cover that $394,456.22, we got a fund balance. We don't have to borrow any money to make this happen."

The budget committee recommended moving MDI forward and advised contracting contingent on attorney review and standard contracting steps. The recommendation will be before the full commission for formal award on the upcoming agenda.