New Prague council authorizes bid advertisement for planned police facility; estimated construction about $9.8M

The New Prague City Council on Monday authorized staff to advertise for construction bids for the proposed police facility and related site work, moving the project into the winter bidding period.

Council approval followed a presentation from Wolde Construction and project consultants, who said the construction bid estimate is about $9,800,000 and the total project budget (including contingency and furniture/equipment) is about $12,200,000.

The authorization matters because it advances the project from final design into procurement while leaving financing decisions for a later date. Bids returned during the winter period will inform whether the council can proceed to mobilize construction in spring.

Wolde Construction representatives told the council that construction documents are complete and the team is ready to issue bid documents in February. The firm said typical bid periods run about 30 days and that contractors generally hold bids for roughly 30 days after submission; bids expected early March would remain valid into April.

Project drawings shown to the council include a new public entry and lobby, administrative offices, a secure evidence storage area, a two-stall ambulance garage, a remodeled existing garage for defensive-tactics training, secure parking and a decorative/secure fence along Highway 21. The plan also shows a reconfigured public parking area on Fifth Avenue and allowance for future expansion.

Budget details presented in the packet included a construction contingency and design contingency totaling about $1,350,000 and a furniture-and-equipment allowance just over $1,000,000. The consultant said the estimate is lower than an earlier $10,000,000 concept estimate and slightly above the $9,400,000 figure from design development.

Council members pressed on cost, timing and financing. Several members noted the city has not finalized funding and that the project could affect future property tax levies. One council member said the project currently reads more like a “want” than an immediate need and asked staff to analyze levy impacts after bids return. Others said delaying could increase cost and hamper the city’s ability to house staff and recruit employees as the city grows.

Council members also reported recent meetings with state legislators about bonding. According to the council’s summary of those meetings, two state senators indicated limited appetite to champion public-safety bonding bills (favoring water/wastewater/street projects) and estimated that any bonding support for the project would likely be in the neighborhood of $6 million or less. The council said one representative told them there was little or no bonding money currently available but would accept submittals for consideration.

Council Member Maggie moved to advertise for bids; Council Member Rick Beadom seconded. The motion passed by voice vote with all members voting in favor.

With authorization to advertise, the next steps are to issue bid documents in February, receive and evaluate bids in March, hold bids for the required hold period, and return to the council with bid results and financing options before awarding a contract.

Council discussion and the project presentation are part of the meeting record; finance, bonding and final contract awards will return to the council for decision after bids are opened.