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Port Washington council approves land purchase step and hears $33.5 million construction estimate for new public safety facility
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Port Washington Common Council approved steps to buy county land for a new public safety complex, terminated a prior land covenant, and received an updated project cost and schedule showing a $33.5 million construction estimate and a target completion in summer 2026.
The Port Washington Common Council on Jan. 21 voted to exercise the city's option to purchase vacant Ozaukee County land proposed as the site for a new public safety facility and to clear an earlier conditional-use covenant on that parcel, while staff and the project's design team reported an updated construction estimate and schedule.
MC Group representative Maura Reardon told the council the most recent construction estimate, based on trade input and schematic design, reconfirmed a $33,500,000 construction estimate (an earlier preliminary figure had been $35,000,000). Reardon said the project will be bid in multiple packages — currently planned as 14 separate bid packages — and that bid openings will be public once the city's construction-manager contract is executed.
Why it matters: the council's land actions clear title and move the public-safety project forward toward a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and construction. The council approved the purchase-step resolution and removed preexisting land restrictions, setting up a roughly 30–60 day timeline to close on the site if all other items proceed as expected.
Reardon described the project's schedule as a roughly 14-month construction period intended to have the structure enclosed before winter and site work completed in spring so the facility could be finished by summer 2026. She said owner costs, equipment, furnishings and contingencies remain under refinement and that some line items may move between “owner” and “construction” budgets as the GMP is developed. Reardon said the GMP presentation and Board review currently are anticipated in March, but that the GMP approval date could slip by about two weeks depending on the bidding timeline.
Council members pressed on procurement and price risk. Alderman Sigwart asked who guarantees a "guaranteed maximum price." Reardon said the construction contract obligates the construction manager to deliver the work in accordance with the construction documents at that price and that changes initiated by the owner or unforeseen conditions would be addressed through change orders.
Council action: the council approved a document terminating an earlier conditional-use grant and releasing the land covenant that appeared on title for the parcel north of State Highway 33 and west of County Highway LL. The council then approved a resolution authorizing exercise of the purchase option and directed staff to proceed toward closing on the property. The council also approved an extension of the current fire services agreement with the Town of Port Washington.
The meeting opened with a swearing-in ceremony for newly hired firefighter-paramedics; Fire Chief Joe DeBoer introduced the new members and said the department will hold a pinning and helmet presentation at the station following the council meeting.
What's next: Reardon said the construction-manager contract needs execution before bids are sent; she expected bids to be distributed as soon as that contract is in place. The council can expect a GMP presentation in March–April and action to authorize construction once pricing and GMP details are available.
Votes at the meeting on the public-safety items were voice votes; the motions carried as recorded on the council's Jan. 21 agenda.
