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Village hall and police station estimates rise; trustees approve scaled landscaping plan
Summary
Architects presented updated design and higher cost estimates for the new village hall/police facility; trustees approved a reduced landscaping plan to lower bid estimates while the board signaled it will seek other cost savings.
The Village of Cross Plains received an update Tuesday on design progress and cost estimates for the planned village hall and police station and approved a modified, lower‑intensity landscaping plan intended to reduce the project’s bid price.
Staff reported that the design‑development cost estimate has increased substantially from the January figure; Wold Architects informed the village the construction estimate is roughly $1.1 million higher than the earlier estimate. Staff told trustees the updated totals reflect evolving construction‑document detail and market conditions and that the project team is seeking value‑engineering savings as it completes construction documents.
Trustees reviewed exterior and interior renderings, materials samples and energy‑efficiency options. The design team presented electricity and heating scenarios that included rooftop solar and a geothermal heating/cooling option. Staff said geothermal would raise upfront costs by roughly $450,000, while a modest rooftop solar array was estimated at about $25,000 with projected annual utility savings of roughly $5,000.
To reduce upfront landscaping costs, the project team and the village forester proposed replacing extensive plug plantings in large areas with seeded grass and limiting high‑maintenance native prairie plantings near parking edges. Trustee discussion focused on tradeoffs between long‑term maintenance and initial installation cost; staff said shifting to seed in some areas could cut hundreds of thousands from the landscaping estimate. The board voted to accept the revised landscaping plan that reduces planted plugs in favor of seeded and grassed areas and maintains tree plantings where shade is needed.
Staff cautioned trustees the full construction estimate remains subject to final bid results and that additional scope reductions may be necessary to meet the village’s fiscal targets. Trustees asked for further detailed cost breakdowns and said they expected staff to continue pursuing cost savings before bids are issued.
