Cole County commission approves architecture contract for Monticello shop expansion and several purchasing contracts

The Cole County Commission on April 22 approved a $106,890 contract with Architects Alliance to design an expansion of the county's Monticello maintenance shop and signed off on several other purchases and service agreements, the commission said during its meeting.

The architects contract covers design services for a proposed expansion and partial reconstruction of the county shop at the Monticello facility. County staff estimated the construction cost at between $1.5 million and $2 million and said the project would raise interior clearances to 25 feet and include a drive-through wash bay capable of handling ambulances and other large equipment.

The commission’s approval authorizes Architects Alliance to proceed with design work; staff said surveying and a geotechnical study would be contracted separately. The meeting record lists surveying at about $2,200 and an estimated geotech study of $10,000. County engineering staff told commissioners they expect plans and a cost estimate sufficient for the next year’s budget by August and to complete roughly 95% of design by the end of the year.

Alongside the Monticello project, the commission approved a series of smaller contracts and purchases. Actions taken during the meeting included awarding a bid for an interview-room recording system for the sheriff’s office, an amendment to an adult brain injury service-coordination contract, an on-call traffic-engineering services agreement, an EMS capital purchase for replacement radio batteries, a recruitment advertising contract, a change of records-management system vendor, and the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse for the public administrator.

Votes at a glance

- Interview-room recording system: The commission awarded the bid for the 2025-17 interview-room recording system for the sheriff’s department to Midmo Telecom in the amount of $39,654 and signed the contract. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- Adult brain injury service coordination: The commission approved a contract amendment adding $8,800 for the current contract year to cover spending, as requested by DHSS. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- Monticello facility architect services: The commission approved and signed a $106,890 agreement with Architects Alliance to begin design for the shop expansion. Staff said additional surveying (about $2,200) and an estimated $10,000 geotechnical study would be contracted separately. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- Traffic engineering services: The commission approved an on-call agreement with Bartlett and West for traffic engineering assistance with a not-to-exceed amount of $10,000, to be charged to the 02/11 safety improvements budget. Staff described the contract as available on an as-needed basis until funds run out. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- EMS capital purchase (Motorola Solutions): The commission authorized the 2025 capital purchase of 55 portable radio batteries and one portable radio from Motorola Solutions for $17,082.59. Staff said batteries were purchased in 2019 and are failing to hold a charge; the item was in the capital budget at $17,900. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- Recruitment advertising (Zimmer): The commission signed a contract with Zimmer for radio and social media advertising to recruit detention officers, totaling $16,062.50 for 30-second commercials and social ads over a 13-week run. The sheriff’s office cited ongoing staffing vacancies and turnover. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- Records management system change (Interpol/Huber & Associates): The commission approved moving the records management system (RMS/JMS and civil) from Tyler to Interpol with Huber & Associates, with an initial cost of $33,675 and a subsequent-year cost of $17,650. The county will retain Tyler mobile for EMS. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

- Public administrator vehicle purchase: The commission approved purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse all-wheel drive from Don Brown (St. Louis) for $39,893 for use by the public administrator. Commissioners said reliability and the need for all-wheel drive for long trips motivated the timing. (Motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor.)

Discussion and context

Commissioners and staff discussed the Monticello shop project timeline and level of design to be completed before the county seeks construction funding in next year’s budget. Staff described the 95% design goal as sufficient to generate an accurate construction estimate in time for budget deliberations. Commissioners asked about interior height, wash-bay function and connections to sewer for wastewater from washing equipment; staff described options including hand sprayers and possible automatic equipment with containment and filtration systems.

On traffic engineering services, staff described Bartlett and West as a consultant to fill specialized needs such as corridor safety analyses, intersection operational studies, speed-limit reviews, ADA transition plans and signal timing. The county intends to use the contract for individual studies and to help prepare grant applications such as MoDOT’s Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP).

Several items were noted as budgeted: the EMS battery replacement was in this year’s capital budget; the Bartlett and West work will come from the 02/11 safety improvements budget; and staff said costs for the Monticello project are subject to identification of construction funds in next year’s budget.

Closed session

At the meeting’s end, the commission voted to go into closed session pursuant to Section 610.021 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri to discuss personnel matters (subsection 13) and existing or proposed security systems (subsection 20). The roll call for the closed session recorded affirmative votes by commissioners present.

Ending note

Commissioners and staff also reviewed committee reports and upcoming local events and urged residents to use the county’s public-works online reporting tool for road concerns. No further public actions were recorded before the commission moved to closed session.