Justice Center near substantial completion; sheriff's move-in window set for late summer

The Justice Center Public Safety Committee heard a construction update Tuesday showing the project is nearly complete and on a schedule that sets substantial completion for July 31, 2025, with a 60-day period after that for final completion and handover.

Burwell Construction project representative Jaren Dolwater told the committee that paving has been finished, parking lots will be striped pending weather and many interior systems are installed. He said, “they have submitted a completion schedule with a substantial completion of 07/31/2025.” The company reported the contract value at $95,038,489.11 and that the most recent pay application showed $92,659,194.11 in place, or about 98.55% complete.

The update emphasized remaining punch-list work rather than major structural problems. Dolwater said ceilings, security wiring and HVAC balancing remain on some floors and that camera systems and kitchen equipment have been delivered. He described walk-throughs planned for the coming days and said ceiling tiles would be dropped after the architect's above-ceiling final inspection. Committee members pressed for clarity about when the county or sheriff's office would receive keys; Dolwater reiterated the contractor's schedule and the 60-day period after substantial completion for final turnover.

Committee members also asked about reported defects. Dolwater responded that the project team had not observed structural deflection beyond design limits and that reported cracking under review is the subject of ongoing negotiations and, where applicable, change directives. He confirmed two construction change directives have been issued and that additional CCDs and change orders are likely as remaining items are finalized.

The committee was told the courtyard mesh and other security finishes had been approved and installed. Dolwater noted some site items have operational impacts to be worked out, such as altered parking patterns and access during final work. He said large items such as training, testing, furniture installation and operational setup would occur during the post-substantial-completion period.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the project update itself; members directed staff to continue monitoring completion milestones and bring any unresolved construction change orders or material deficiencies back to the committee for action.

The committee scheduled walk-throughs and final inspections in the coming week and will revisit any outstanding change order requests at a future meeting if they exceed negotiated allowances or require appropriation.