Wayne County staff urge two-year extension and $4M-a-year expansion to Friedman property‑management agreement at Criminal Justice Complex

Wayne County staff asked the Committee on Public Services to approve an amendment that would extend and expand the property‑management agreement with Friedman Real Estate Management for services at the Criminal Justice Complex (CJC). The committee discussed the proposal at length but took no formal vote; staff said the item will be before the full board for a formal vote on another date.

The amendment would exercise two one‑year renewal options already contemplated in the original contract and add roughly $4,000,000 per year in subcontracted services, officials said. James Heath, corporation counsel, described the presentation as “just a discussion,” and Gregory Hurst, director of Facilities Management and Planning, said the county is asking to extend the contract to preserve vendor pricing and maintain continuity of service while the county completes a multi‑year transition to preventive maintenance.

Why it matters: Friedman currently manages janitorial work, pest control, shuttle services, landscaping and other building services for the 1.2‑million‑square‑foot CJC. Staff said Friedman also coordinates specialized subcontractors—HVAC, IPTV (television) systems, detention locks and security electronics—services county trades do not typically perform. Staff argued that the amendment would help protect the county’s recent construction investment by keeping those systems on manufacturer‑recommended maintenance cycles.

Staff and company role: Hurst said the jail’s general contractor, Barton Malow, remains the single‑point conduit for construction warranty and remedial work, but that ongoing daily operations and specialized service needs have required expanded vendor relationships. “We achieved turnover of the CJC, March eighteenth 2024,” Hurst said, describing the post‑turnover correction period and the continuing need for specialized contractors and coordination.

Services proposed: Staff listed four broad service categories intended for ongoing maintenance agreements: HVAC and controls, the IPTV television/wayfinding system, detention locks and related hardware, and security electronics. Hurst said some specialized vendors—named in committee discussion as Limbach (HVAC), Conti (IPTV) and Accurate Controls (security electronics)—have spent weeks on site to train county staff and perform repairs. Staff told commissioners they want annual preventative work that includes cell‑by‑cell cleaning, power washing and scheduled lock and electronics checks to maintain the facility at or near the day‑one condition.

Cost and contracting details: Corporation counsel and county staff said the current three‑year Friedman contract approved at the end of 2023 was roughly $24 million. The amendment under discussion would add approximately $4 million per year for the new services and extend the contract two additional years, which county counsel said would add roughly $30,000,000 total in additional costs over the extended period (staff provided that aggregate during the discussion). Commission counsel noted the department currently has about 10 contracts through Friedman and planned to add roughly 14 more, meaning roughly 24 subcontract agreements would be managed through the property manager rather than routed directly to the committee.

Concerns and process safeguards: Several commissioners voiced concerns about extending the contract now rather than exercising options later. Commissioner Kenlock asked why the county could not exercise renewal options only when needed; staff responded that some subcontractor pricing is tied to a contract period that would not extend past Friedman’s current term unless Friedman’s contract is extended. Commissioner (name recorded in transcript as) Baydoun said he had constituent complaints about Friedman’s performance in other jurisdictions and told staff he had asked Friedman to contact him; he said he opposed supporting the amendment until he had a direct conversation with company representatives. Commission counsel reminded the committee that the original contract includes a termination clause (60 days) and that staff would provide regular reporting to this body on subcontractors, costs and scope. Commission counsel also said the current Friedman contract expires in December 2026 and the requested exercise would extend it to December 2028.

Next steps: The committee did not vote on the amendment; staff said Friedman representatives will attend the full‑board meeting when the item is formally presented and that staff will work with concerned commissioners to address district‑level complaints about Friedman’s other properties.

Ending: County staff urged the committee to approve the extension and expanded services at the full board, citing continuity of maintenance, vendor pricing and training of county trades. Commissioners asked for added reporting and direct contact with Friedman on constituent concerns before making a final decision.