McKinstry outlines design‑build plan for new Erath County joint dispatch center, targets June 2026 completion

McKinstry project staff presented a 30% schematic design and a wide-range budget estimate on May 27 to the Erath County Commissioners Court for a joint emergency operations center and dispatch facility to be built from the county's former tax office.

The presentation said the county will use the design‑build delivery method allowed under Local Government Code 2269 and that McKinstry’s role as design‑builder is to develop a realistic, transparent budget and to reduce late-stage unknowns by coordinating architects, engineers and construction teams early. Walter Wills, project director for McKinstry, said he is overseeing the project from development through construction.

Why it matters: the project is intended to consolidate emergency operations and 24‑hour dispatch functions into a hardened facility and to improve safety, security and resilience for county emergency staff.

McKinstry said the existing building shell — a former tax office built with poured concrete and originally intended as a jail — will be reused for the emergency operations center (EOC), while an expansion on the south parking lot will house dispatch consoles. The firm listed scope items that will be part of the turnkey project, including roof repair/replacement, mechanical/electrical/plumbing upgrades, soundproofing, mission‑critical power (a generator), communications infrastructure, security and access control, HVAC upgrades and exterior/ADA improvements including a covered parking/drive‑through drop-off to improve staff safety.

“Our primary role is as early as possible to figure out a realistic and transparent budget, to figure out what scope items you need, and to reduce all of the unknowns that typically come later in the project,” Walter Wills said.

McKinstry presented a milestone schedule that puts the county at the 30% (conceptual) stage now, with a target implementation/closeout currently shown as June 2026. The presenter noted the March completion target discussed earlier in committee is now unlikely, and that the 30% package represents the widest budget range; the company expects to narrow the range when it brings a 60% design back to the emergency committee and commissioners.

Budget and coordination: McKinstry characterized the 30% estimate as a “rough order of magnitude” with a typical +/-15% spread at this stage. The firm told commissioners it will work with the county’s emergency committee to value‑engineer options and coordinate construction timing with the county’s planned communications tower installation so infrastructure work is sequenced and not duplicated. McKinstry also said the current budget now includes a generator and electrical work that earlier conceptual documents had omitted.

County and city staff involvement: presenters thanked Erath County staff and Stephenville city staff for providing existing drawings and abatement reports that accelerated the design process. McKinstry noted it had discovered items not covered in earlier conceptual designs — for example, a more extensive roofing and HVAC scope and additional exterior improvements — and adjusted the 30% plans accordingly.

Next steps: the company said the design set and committee notes are available on request and that it will return to refine scope and budget at 60% design, after which the court would consider an implementation (lump‑sum) contract. The presenter described preconstruction, overlapping preconstruction/construction activities and owner training/operations & maintenance packaging as part of the closeout.

County officials in court expressed support for the project and for coordination with the city. No formal action was taken by the commissioners court during the presentation.

Ending: McKinstry staff said they would continue meetings with the county emergency committee and provide updated drawings and estimates as the design phase advances.