Adams County committee votes to move forward with courthouse renovation; MSA agreement and bidding to proceed

The Adams County Property & Recreation and Building Committee voted to proceed with the county administrative renovation project and authorized staff to move forward with contracting and an RFP process with MSA, the design/management firm. The committee recorded a majority vote to begin the next procurement steps and to solicit bids with detailed alternates rather than lock in every item.

Committee members said the project is intended to improve public access, correct ADA deficiencies and address longstanding complaints about the building layout and parking. County Administrator Cynthia Haggard told the committee she was seeking “an absolute direction” so staff could sign the MSA agreement and avoid further delay. Haggard also told the committee MSA’s upfront fee for project services is $149,000.

The vote followed extensive discussion about the project scope and cost. Several members raised concerns about individual line items in the MSA cost estimate, including high estimated prices for wall work and office remodels. Supervisor Jerry Paylor and others asked for assurances that the committee could pick among alternates after receiving real bids; staff and the task group said that would be possible and that bidders would price alternates accordingly.

Task-group members and county maintenance staff described changes that could reduce contractor costs, such as doing interior painting in-house and limiting contractor work to flooring and other trades that are typically outsourced. County staff said the top-line project estimate in the MSA packets was $2.3 million but that the internal task group believes the buildable scope, after using alternates and in-house work, could come in closer to $1.7 million.

Security and circulation also were central to debate. Some members argued for “hardening” a wall and closing a corridor to create a single point of secure entry; others said a staffed screening point or a secured door during evening meetings could achieve needed security at lower cost. County staff warned that a staffed screening point would add recurring costs (department estimates suggested roughly $120,000 annually for additional deputy staffing).

After discussion, the committee approved a motion to move forward with the project and to authorize the MSA contract and RFP/bid process. The committee agreed to use bid alternates that the committee will later accept or reject individually.

Supporters said a completed renovation would serve the public for decades, reduce the number of internal doors the public must traverse and address a failing parking area near the courthouse. Opponents and cautious members requested clearer line-item control and the ability to pare back or remove alternates to reduce projected cost.

Next steps: staff will finalize the MSA agreement and issue the RFPs with alternates. The committee will review bids and decide which alternates to accept before a final contractor award.