County reviews $741,009 change-order estimate to renovate public safety building lower level

County staff on June 12 presented a $741,009.26 proposal from Ringling Johnson for renovation work at the Public Safety Building, including lower-level spaces and main-level restroom renovations, and recommended proceeding as a change order to the primary design-build contract.

County project manager Manny (surname not given) and staff explained the work would bring sheriff employees back into an updated Public Safety Building and would affect roughly 8,000 square feet. The $741,009.26 figure comprised approximately $655,000 for lower-level renovations plus nearly $87,000 for upper-level restroom work; staff said the figure does not include building-permit fees or a contingency. They estimated a typical municipal building permit would be about 2% (roughly $15,000) and said permit costs would be added to the budget. Project staff recommended bringing the item back to the full board on June 26 for a formal vote.

Manny said the county will seek to bill half the cost to the City of Belvidere for work that touches common areas per the intergovernmental agreement, and board members discussed how shared spaces and permit costs should be allocated. No contract was executed at the June 12 meeting; staff said they would return with final contract documents and a refined cost schedule on June 26.