Commissioners approve additional funding and construction award for St. Clements Island Museum

The Commissioners of Saint Mary’s County approved July 22 a budget amendment to fund construction of the new St. Clements Island Museum and authorized the procurement officer to award the construction contract.

Public works staff told commissioners the lowest reliable construction estimate after competitive bidding rose from an earlier budgeted figure of roughly $4.4 million to about $6.3 million, driven largely by higher-than-anticipated mechanical, electrical and site-work costs. Acting Department of Public Works director Donny Mills and CFO Vanetta Van Cleef presented two options: reallocate funds from the FIN (capital reserve) or move money from another capital project, Shannon Farm. After discussion, commissioners approved transferring funds from the capital reserve to cover the gap.

Procurement staff said the county received nine bids and recommended awarding the construction contract to WM Davis Incorporated. Commissioners praised the local award. "Getting a local bidder or a local builder ... is a good thing, and that's good for Saint Mary's County and our citizens," one commissioner said.

The board voted to authorize the procurement officer to award the project to WM Davis subject to receipt and acceptance of contract documents and to approve the budget amendment transferring capital-reserve funds into the museum project. Staff said some related permitting and lease approvals (the museum sits on DNR property) contributed to earlier schedule delays; recent completion of a pre-bid and extended bidding period produced a fuller market response.

Public works noted that staff will consider independent cost-estimating practices for major future projects; commissioners discussed the risk that long lead times and public-sector requirements can increase costs and stressed the need for third-party cost reviews on large procurements.