At the Aug. 26, 2025 special meeting the county commissioners approved a contract with Artex for a courthouse feasibility/architectural study, with the vendor’s fee capped at $30,000, county staff said.

County staff described negotiated changes requested by county counsel before approval: litigation venue language was changed so any litigation would occur in either Bismarck or Fargo (instead of the vendor’s previous default), and overtime billing language was revised so overtime work would be performed only with client approval. "With those changes, there's a signature page in front of you. It's no more than $30,000 is what they quoted us for to do the study," a county staff member reported to the board.

The board approved the contract in a motion at the meeting; a commissioner seconded the motion and the chair called the question. "All in favor? Aye." The board directed staff to sign the contract and move forward so the consultant can begin field work and the study.

Why it matters: The feasibility study is intended to provide the county a starting point for courthouse planning, including any site work, scope, and estimated costs. Staff said moving quickly will allow consultants to perform exterior and site assessments while weather conditions remain favorable.

Outcomes and next steps

- The board authorized execution of the Artex proposal for the courthouse study, not to exceed $30,000.
- Staff will sign the contract and arrange for Artex to begin the study; county counsel’s requested contract edits were incorporated prior to board approval.

Ending

County staff said they will circulate the signed contract and a timeline to the board once they receive the executed documents from Artex.