Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Department Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Health department building under time pressure; state funding and cost risk raised
Summary
Committee members were warned that the planned turnkey health department project must be completed by June 30 next year, and staff said state funds expected to cover cost overruns are not guaranteed; commissioners asked to await May 1 bid results before making decisions.
Sumner County staff told the General Operations Committee that the planned health-department turnkey project faces a tight schedule and a budget risk if construction bids exceed the state funding currently allocated.
Finance and project staff said the county must have demolition and construction finished by June 30 of next year to meet the state’s turnkey requirement. Project planning has advanced to an advertised bid stage; staff said the request for proposals will open and bids will be received on May 1. "We are actually under the gun. We have until June thirtieth of next year to have a turnkey ready," a county director told the committee.
Commissioners pressed staff on contingency plans if bids come in above the currently available state and county funds. One commissioner said she had been told previously that the state would cover any excess costs; staff replied that initial conversations with the state indicated a willingness to help in some cases but that many contingency funds have "dried up." Finance director and project staff said it currently is unclear whether the state will make additional funds available, and that staff cannot yet estimate an overage until bids arrive on May 1.
Why it matters: The project is time-sensitive because the county has acceptance conditions from state grant programs; if bids exceed available funding, the county would need to seek a supplemental appropriation, scope reductions or other alternatives.
Discussion highlights: Commissioners asked whether the architectural scope could be reduced to trim cost; staff said value-engineering has already been done and further scope cuts risk missing the turnkey deadline. Commissioners suggested waiting until May 1 bid openings before deciding on additional county funding or scope changes.
Next steps: Staff will return with bid results after May 1. If bids come in above available funds, staff said they will present options to the commission including seeking additional funds, identifying alternatives or further value engineering.
