Teton County staff report design, bid and permit timeline for Justice Center; demolition, historic review discussed

Teton County project managers told commissioners on Sept. 8 that the Justice Center, courthouse and detention center project is moving into design development, that early bid packages have been released and that a phased permitting approach is intended to keep construction on a planned schedule.

The county’s consultant team said the contractor is preparing a design-development cost estimate to be presented Sept. 12, and that the team has submitted a development-plan package and a building-permit application for modular buildings adjacent to the site. Jason Berning, with BPM, said the final development plan will be submitted “next Friday” and that the town’s review process is expected to take “about 120 to 150 days” before design-review committees, planning and zoning and town council consideration.

Why it matters: the schedule the team described sets a path where demolition would begin in February while the building permit and full construction drawings proceed; the county’s ability to start long‑lead purchases and award a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) depends on those milestones.

The county’s construction manager reported that bid openings were held Sept. 2 for selected early packages — demolition, shoring, earthwork, the detention prefabricated cell package, and some electrical and mechanical work — and that those bidders are under review. The team said the earliest contractors could be under contract by early October, which would allow long‑lead items to be ordered after Oct. 1 and give the county time to negotiate value‑engineering opportunities.

Commissioners pressed the team about the demolition-permit schedule and a possible 90‑day historic‑preservation stay. The county noted that demolition permits normally go to the town’s historic preservation review and that the town’s board can impose a 90‑day stay to determine historic significance. County staff and commissioners discussed options to accelerate that review; County Attorney Keith said the county’s Historic Preservation Board (a county board) ultimately participates in that process and could be asked to meet on an expedited timeline.

Commissioner Carlman said he did not want the preservation process to delay a project that voters approved, saying in part, “The 1968 courthouse was the best our community could do in 1968. It’s not historic. Voters have ordered us to build a new courthouse.” County staff said the project team had planned schedule time for a possible 90‑day review and will request expedited review where feasible.

Project schedule details presented by staff included: - Submittal of modular building permit application (staff expects an 8–10 week town review window for that permit). - Final development‑plan submission with an estimated 120–150 day town review cycle; staff said the final development plan is the key milestone before the full building permit. - An anticipated path where demolition work could start in February, with a target of a building permit in May; the GMP and full construction drawings were expected to be priced in February to allow a contract award to proceed.

The team also told commissioners it had prepared early demolition and grading packages to help keep the overall schedule on track and to allow early contractor onboarding to address long‑lead procurement and shoring design (the shoring subcontract will be delegated design).

No formal action beyond discussion was taken on design or contracting at the Sept. 8 meeting. Commissioners agreed staff should pursue options to expedite the historic‑preservation review and return with any recommended steps.

Ending: Staff said a cost‑estimate update will be on the next monthly project report after the Sept. 12 meeting with the contractor and that commissioners will receive a presentation on bids and value‑engineering items at an upcoming meeting.