Washington County outlines $7 million government center renovation, bids due July 1; water service, phasing and retainage flagged

Washington County staff presented a master‑plan update for a multi‑phase renovation of the county government center, saying the project is being put out for public bid with a mandatory on‑site prebid meeting and bids due July 1. The presentation included a budget estimate of about $7,000,000, six listed alternates for interior finishes, a proposed construction start in August 2025 and a projected overall completion in November 2026.

County staff said the renovation will be split into roughly three phases intended to keep the building as open and accessible as possible. Scott, a county staff member leading the presentation, said the architect and project team expect roughly five months of work per phase but that the contractor selected in the bidding process may propose adjustments to sequencing and duration.

The county presented a list of alternates—new finishes for suites (district attorney, human resources, finance), painting and flooring—and said those alternates will be included in the bid packet. Staff also said LED lighting upgrades and other smaller construction items will be offered as optional alternates.

The budget update noted several line items listed as zero. Staff explained one of those was a redundant secondary water service; extensions to provide separate water feeding to the…