Chester County awards animal shelter construction contract, approves alternates and contingency

Chester County Council voted to accept the low construction bid for a new animal control shelter and approved alternates and contingency to match the project budget previously authorized by council.

County staff reported that the low base bid from Montgomery Construction Company, of Lexington, South Carolina, was $4,162,695.40. Staff described three alternates for (1) a whole‑facility generator, (2) epoxy flooring to ease cleaning and staining, and (3) synthetic turf for dog runs in lieu of sod. The alternates totaled $226,938; when combined with the base bid the contract plus alternates totaled $4,389,633. Staff said $4,651,000 had been committed to the project, leaving $261,367 available for contingency under the existing authorization.

Council approved a motion to accept the low bid and add the three alternates and contingency, matching the previously approved project authorization. Staff said, weather permitting, they anticipated a ground‑breaking in early to mid‑February and noted the bid documents include a contractor completion timeframe (staff estimated approximately 240 days but said they would confirm the exact contract timeframe).

Why this matters: the action moves construction toward procurement and site work; approvals of alternates and contingency keep the project within the previously authorized budget and set the county up to proceed with contracting and scheduling.