Committee approves $4.235 million bid for sheriff's detention dorm, authorizes separate $37,000 testing contract

Deputy Manager Schlockter and county staff told the Development and Planning Services Committee on March 11, 2025, that the county will award the base bid of $4,235,000 to R.D. Brown for the Sheriff's Detention Dorm Phase 2 project and separately contract with WSP USA Inc. for special inspections and material testing at an estimated cost of about $37,000.

The county presentation said the dorm is modeled on an existing F pod and would contain 46 bunks; staff noted the space could hold an additional 92 people depending on how bunks are arranged. County staff said Sheriff’s Office personnel participated in the contractor selection process.

Prather, a county staff member presenting the items, said the testing contract is “in our best interest as an owner and liability” and explained that hiring an independent inspector reduces the risk that a general contractor could influence test outcomes. Deputy Manager Schlockter said contracts and bonding should be completed in about a month and staff expects to break ground in May, with the project finished in about a year.

Both the bid award and the WSP USA Inc. testing contract were moved to the consent agenda and seconded. The transcript records the motions being moved and seconded but does not record an explicit roll-call tally or named votes for either motion; staff recommended approval for both items.

The county packet lists the base bid and the testing estimate; no additional funding sources or bond amounts were specified during the discussion. No amendments to the contracts or bid were proposed during the meeting.

Upcoming steps listed by staff include finalizing contract documents and bond requirements before issuing a notice to proceed.