Kootenai County justice building finishes under budget; $2.2 million in savings reported

Kootenai County officials reported that the new justice building is largely complete and operating while remaining under its original budget by roughly $2.225 million.

David Mendez of Turner & Townsend told the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 5 that the contractor’s guaranteed maximum price was $28,600,000 and that design and construction contingencies have been only partially used. “The total design contingency that we utilized during the project is 756,000 of that 882,000,” Mendez said, and “the total used on the project is 373,000 of the $819,000” for construction contingency. He said the remaining contingency funds include about $125,000 from design and $446,000 from construction.

The savings extend into soft costs and furnishings. Mendez said the architect will underrun by about $20,000 — money that came from ARPA funds and “we'll have to credit back ARPA that $20,000 if they don't use it.” He said third-party testing will overrun by about $20,000 and that FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) is likely to be about $185,000 under budget, producing a credit to the project. After tallying contingency and soft-cost adjustments, Mendez said the project shows a combined underrun of about $1,198,000 and, with unused owner contingency, total savings of $2,225,000 from the original budget of $35,820,000, leaving “a final project cost to date … $33,000,005.94.”

Jeff Voller, director of facilities, said the move into the building “went very well,” and described remaining minor items staff are addressing. Those include HVAC balancing, door adjustments, remaining punch-list items, final camera and emergency-call-button installations, a few IT interoperability issues being handled by the state IT team, and warranty follow-up with the contractor. Voller outlined several small additional outfitting purchases he plans to make unless the board objects: additional stainless-steel bench seating for the public lobby (an estimated $2,000), modified chairs for attorney tables (about $2,000), custom-built bailiff desks and secure storage because those desks were not included in the contractor scope, some minor rekeying, and additional permanent signage.

Voller also said the county will add peepholes into courtroom back doors and install an after-hours payment box nearer the public entry (the existing box is currently in a staff-only vestibule). He noted two large southeast-corner offices that generate glare and heat; he is obtaining quotes for two additional blinds to reduce morning heat and glare. Voller said he is collecting warranty items and that most remaining tasks are small, department-level requests that should be handled from individual department budgets going forward.

The commissioners asked a few clarifying questions during the update; staff indicated the owner contingency the county was required to carry by statute ($1,027,000) was not tapped.

Officials cautioned the figures are “to date” and a few invoices remain outstanding. Mendez said some items — notably certain third-party invoices — have not been received and final adjustments may change the number slightly.

Voller closed by thanking Mendez and the contractor teams for responsiveness during occupancy and handing off ongoing warranty and minor adjustments work.