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Jackson County authorizes up to $400,000 from TDC funds to finish Endeavor Convention Center site work
Summary
County commissioners approved funding from the Tourist Development Tax lockbox to complete paving, drainage and parking for the Endeavor Convention Center, and directed staff to pursue individual contracts rather than a change order to the existing building contractor.
Jackson County commissioners on March 11 approved a request to finish paving and other site work at the Endeavor Convention Center, authorizing staff to spend up to $400,000 from the county’s Tourist Development Tax (TDC) lockbox to complete parking, drainage and related site improvements.
The request came from Brent Melvin, who told commissioners the building renovation overseen by CGM is about 85% complete but that the site work originally removed from the construction contract—about $550,000 worth of parking, sidewalks and related items—remains unfinished. Melvin and staff proposed pursuing the remaining site tasks with separate contracts and using County Road and Bridge for some grading to reduce costs. He said the funding source would be remaining TDC funds plus projected TDC receipts through the end of the fiscal year.
County staff and project representatives said working with subcontractors directly rather than issuing a change order to CGM would avoid the contractor’s general-conditions markup and save the county money. Staff noted the City of Marianna previously contributed about $120,000 for water and sewer service to the site. Commissioners were also briefed that the project has received a legislative appropriation of roughly $1.5 million and that the current balance in the TDC lockbox is approximately $2.1 million; staff estimated that after the site work and other pending payments the fund would retain a modest balance for operations and maintenance.
The board discussed the requested not-to-exceed figure. Staff said $350,000 was a conservative working estimate but described $400,000 as the upper limit, with the final amount dependent on bids for discrete elements. A motion to approve the request and allow staff to proceed with procurement and contracts passed by voice vote.
During the discussion a commissioner noted a prior engagement related to the project and said they had recused themselves from related votes; the meeting record shows that commissioner stated their prior involvement and that they would not participate in votes where required.
Why it matters: The building renovation is nearly complete, but without parking, sidewalks and lighting the facility cannot open for large events. Commissioners said completing site work promptly is important to allow the center to host its planned opening and to permit use by visitors who generate the bed-tax revenue supporting the work.
What comes next: Staff will solicit bids or quotes for discrete site-work packages, coordinate with County Road and Bridge for grading, and use TDC lockbox funds as authorized. The board asked staff to manage costs conservatively and return with final contract documents as required by county procurement rules.
