Lakeville police station project advances; committee approves utility and change-order items

The Town of Lakeville Police Station Building Committee on Aug. 1 received an on-site construction update and approved several small change orders and contract steps to keep the project on schedule.

The committee was told foundations and footings for both the main building and outbuilding are complete and that underground plumbing, electrical work and backfill are under way. "The foundations and footings are complete at both buildings," the construction update presenter said, adding that contractors expect to pour the slab in about three weeks and that "the steel is on-site, ready to go." The presenter said that after structural steel erection the building "will go up quick" and predicted visible progress in the following four weeks.

The committee was also briefed on budget and contingency status. Staff said approved changes and new items this month reduced contingency but left it "healthy," and that a more detailed month-by-month expenditure report will be provided at the next meeting.

Nut graf: Committee members approved an on-site service-line upgrade to meet fire-suppression flow needs and directed procurement steps for equipment needed to complete the site work, while discussing recommendations and cost estimates for additional items — notably contractor requests for small truss reinforcement, underground propane tanks and radio/IT infrastructure — that could increase scope and near-term spending.

Most important votes and decisions

- Change order (fire service): The contractor reported that a flow test showed the on-site fire service line needed to increase from the design 4-inch to a 6-inch sprinkler service. The committee approved change proposal number 4 for the sprinkler/service line upgrade, recorded in the meeting as $555.18. The committee voted in favor; the chair recorded the motion as carried unanimously.

- Generator procurement: The committee moved and voted to enter into a contract with South Shore Generator Sales and Service for procurement of the station generator; the committee approved the motion unanimously. The meeting record identifies an estimated cost but the transcripted figure is unclear; the exact contract amount and final authorization are to be confirmed in the formal contract paperwork.

- ERV/truss reinforcement: Staff described a vendor request to reinforce a pair of roof trusses after rotating an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV) to improve service access. The supplier's change request was for $888.28 (contractor routing made the invoice $888.28). Staff recommended approval of the $888.28 work; a motion was made to approve that change (see actions). The transcript does not record a detailed roll-call tally for that specific item in the excerpted audio, though staff recommended approval.

Additional procurement and technical updates

- Propane tanks: A propane supplier, Jason Gas Service of East Freetown, provided a proposal recommending two 1,000-gallon underground tanks piped in tandem to serve both the main building and outbuilding. The supplier quoted $8,851.87 to furnish two underground tanks plus regulators and connectors. Staff estimated piping and in-building connections at $3,500–$4,200; excavation/trenching is not included in those figures and would be procured separately (AP Whitaker or other contractor). Committee members discussed whether to purchase tanks (town-owned) versus leasing and asked staff to obtain additional proposals and warranty information before a final procurement decision.

- Security, gate and radios: The committee confirmed Cygnet (security vendor referenced in the record) is on board for the security system and that conduit and gate operator work is being coordinated with the general contractor so electrical and control wiring is in place. Staff said gate controls and site access will be integrated with the town’s chosen access-control/security solution and that pricing for a complete gate-control and video/intercom solution will follow. A radio meeting to prepare a bid package for police radios is being scheduled; staff said about $150,000 has been allocated for radio equipment.

- Fiber, dispatch and IT: Committee members discussed using the town's fiber and voice-over-IP options instead of or as a backup to traditional copper phone lines for dispatch. Members said a discussion will continue to ensure that the fiber and any critical equipment (including equipment in the library) are provided with generator/UPS backup so dispatch and town systems remain operational during outages.

Other items and next steps

- Material testing: Consultants performing material testing produced satisfactory test results but staff asked for cleaner reporting after finding occasional reporting errors; consultants were asked to correct their reports promptly.

- VE and finish items: The committee discussed value-engineer items that had been changed during bidding, including a pending upgrade from laminate to solid-surface countertops; staff said pricing for those items is still pending and any approved upgrade would become a formal change order after vendor pricing is vetted.

- Naming the community room: The committee voted unanimously to name the project’s community room after Rita (as proposed by a member); members agreed on the motion and asked staff to handle signage and placement details.

The committee set its next meeting for Sept. 5 and asked staff to provide a month-by-month budget report, additional vendor proposals for propane tanks, warranty information, and the radio bid package in advance of the next session.