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Nicollet County approves HHS remodel contracts; project to reconfigure veterans services and create temporary relocations
Summary
The Nicollet County Board authorized contracts for a first-floor and second-floor remodel at Health & Human Services to address safety, privacy, and expanded veteran services; the project will be funded from county reserves and construction is expected to start in early May.
Nicollet County commissioners on April 22 authorized execution of contracts with low bidders and the county's construction manager, Integrity Group Incorporated, for a remodel of the Health & Human Services (HHS) building. The project will reconfigure first-floor veterans services, add office and meeting space on the second floor, and create more secure interview areas for private conversations.
County staff said the remodel was in the capital-improvement plan and that 2024 estimates put the project near $500,000. After bids opened, staff presented an approximate bid total of $582,210 and asked the board to approve contracting and use of county reserve funds to cover the remodel. Commissioners approved the request.
Scope and schedule
According to materials presented at the meeting, the project will: - Reconfigure the HHS first floor to address safety and privacy concerns in the veterans services office; add a third office and a dedicated lobby area; create an exit from the office and alter the break room to accommodate added office space. - On the second floor, add doors to create three multifunctional meeting spaces and seven office spaces to maximize usable space. - Provide temporary office relocations for staff during construction, with some staff able to work remotely when appropriate. Veterans Services staff will be relocated internally within the HHS building, and county staff said the project includes beginning to offer veterans services in North Mankato one day a week.
Contracting and budget
Integrity Group Incorporated was identified as the construction manager; Vedder Johnson Architects and Integrity Group staff were in the meeting and available to answer questions. Staff distributed a comparison of the original estimate and the post-bid budget and a bid tab showing the low bidders for each trade. Construction was described as expected to begin in early May and last a couple of months.
Board action and next steps
The board authorized the county administrator to execute contracts with the low bidders and the construction manager. Staff were directed to implement a communications plan (signage, website and social-media notices, and mailed postcards to veterans) to inform visitors about temporary relocations and the new weekly veterans service in North Mankato.
Why this matters
County staff said the remodel improves client privacy, staff workflow and continuity of care for inmates and veterans who need services coordinated through multiple county offices. The board approved using reserve funds to cover the remodel; staff said they scanned thousands of existing paper records into electronic files in a related county improvement project, which had reduced file-cabinet storage and improved records transfer to other facilities.
Project contacts and follow-up
Vedder Johnson Architects (Tyler Johnson) and Integrity Group Incorporated (Travis Beckman) were in the audience and available for follow-up. The county administrator is authorized to sign the low-bid contracts and begin mobilization.
