Commissioners approve $175,399 change order for hydrant and booster pump at new public health building

Camden County commissioners approved a $175,399 change order to install a fire hydrant and a booster pump at the new Department of Public Health building off Winding Road in Kingsland, staff said, to meet a City of Kingsland engineer’s fire-code requirements and obtain a certificate of occupancy.

Seth (county project staff) told commissioners the booster pump was required because the site is at the end of the city water line and the pump is necessary to guarantee sufficient pressure at the new hydrant. He said the original contractor estimate had been substantially higher — as much as roughly $350,000 in early quotes — and that staff negotiated the price downward; Seth noted a minor correction to the amount presented in the packet, saying the total is $175,399 (the packet line-item overstated the senior project manager rate by $15/hour).

Commissioner Mr. Collins asked whether future adjacent property owners would share use of the hydrant and asked whether the county could recover some costs if a neighboring developer benefits. Seth said staff would ask the City of Kingsland about potential cost-sharing or reimbursement but advised the board to approve the change order so the county could secure occupancy without further delay. Funding for the work will come from SPLOST 8, staff said. The board voted to approve the change order.

Why it matters: The booster pump and hydrant are a precondition for the building’s certificate of occupancy under the city’s fire-safety requirements; without them the county could not occupy the new public-health facility. The county also flagged a potential policy question about whether adjacent property that benefits should help cover installation cost.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the work order and follow up with the City of Kingsland about whether cost sharing or reimbursement is feasible; work will be paid from SPLOST 8 funds.