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Ulster County advances Government Operations Center to construction with $5 million capital increase and four contractor awards
Summary
The committee approved a $5 million amendment increasing the Government Operations Center project budget and awarded four construction contracts totaling roughly $22.7 million; county staff said environmental cleanup and state grant funding are in progress.
The Ulster County Public Works and Capital Projects Committee on April 7 amended the Government Operations Center (GOC) capital project to add roughly $5 million and voted to approve four major construction contracts for the project.
Committee members and staff said the county has moved the GOC into the construction phase after bids returned near expectations. County capital staff described ongoing coordination with New York State on an environmental cleanup related to an old apple orchard on the site; weekly meetings with state regulators continue, and remediation for the construction footprint will be completed as work proceeds. Staff said the cleanup is included in the project scope. The committee heard that a portion of the GOC funding is expected from a state surge grant, but the county will advance full project contracts now and apply the state funds when they are received.
Legislator McCullough asked why the project budget increased; the county’s executive director for capital projects explained the earlier amounts covered design and land acquisition, while this amendment funds the construction phase. The committee was told bids placed the construction total near the $34 million range and that the county will bond approximately $11 million (approximate) to finance part of the construction. Officials said final bond figures will be set once the project closes.
The committee approved the capital amendment (Resolution 159) and subsequently approved four late, high-value contracts for the GOC: Amdron Construction Corporation (general construction), Merit Construction Inc. (site work), Parica Electric Company (electrical), and UNO Mechanical Inc. d/b/a YMI Group (mechanical/plumbing). Each contract was presented as a late resolution with prequalification and vetting described by deputy executive Capuano.
Committee members also noted that approximately $4 million in state surge grant funds were awarded last December and would be applied to eligible portions of the project when the funds are formally recorded. Staff said about 9% of the costs for the four contracts are expected to be covered by state support, but until that revenue posts the county will approve contracts using the county’s bonding authority.
Resolutions and contracts passed with recorded abstentions by one legislator citing employment conflicts on several of the contract votes; others passed with committee approval.
Staff will continue to coordinate environmental remediation with the state and return with bonding details and the final accounting when state funds are posted.
