Adams County committee authorizes MSA design work for courthouse remodel amid security, ADA and cost debates

The Adams County Property, Recreation and Building Committee voted to authorize county staff to move forward with a design agreement with MSA and to issue a request for proposals for a courthouse/administrative remodel after extended discussion about parking, security and costs.

County Administrator Cynthia Haggard told the committee she needed a clear direction to avoid delays. "What I need today is a clear direction," she said, describing repeated concerns from committee members about design, security and project cost. The committee debated whether to harden walls between the judicial side and administrative offices or to pursue a single point of entry with screening.

Concerns raised included loss of parking stalls (two handicap stalls were removed for a memorial), complicated ramp geometry to meet ADA slope requirements, and whether people would have to leave one building and re-enter another for administrative services. Bill Reynolds, maintenance supervisor, said the parking area adjacent to the building is in poor condition and that coordinated parking repairs would produce a better long-term result.

Security options discussed included hardening the office walls, installing a single-point-of-entry scanner or using deputies at screening points. Kyle (IT/staff) estimated a single walk-through scanner would cost on the order of $5,000; staff also noted that re-staffing a screening point could require two deputies at an annual staffing cost of roughly $120,000. Proponents of hardening said the courts favored permanent hardening of the door to reduce security risk.

MSA's professional-fee proposal for project design and management is $149,000, Cynthia said. The design estimate presented previously put the project's top-line figure at about $2.3 million; members and staff repeatedly described that figure as an estimate and said the task group expects bids and alternates could reduce the final construction cost (staff suggested a working expectation of about $1.7 million, but emphasized the figure is not final). Staff said many elements could be broken into alternates so the committee can approve or reject portions after bids return.

After discussion, Supervisor Jay Cherkal moved to proceed with the MSA agreement and to issue an RFP; Rocky seconded. Committee members voted by name; recorded responses included Trickel (yes), Rocky (yes), Taylor (yes) and Scott (no). The motion carried.

Committee members asked staff to return firm delivery and cost estimates once bids are received and to identify which items are alternates that can be removed to reduce cost. Staff also identified several potential in-house cost savings (maintenance painting and minor repairs) and said that flooring and non-compliant restrooms are likely items that must be addressed in the project.

The committee gave staff direction to proceed with MSA and the RFP process; final scope and bid award decisions will return to the committee for approval.