Heath council approves design-build contract for two public-safety stations

The Heath City Council on May 27 approved a design-build contract with Grossman Design Build to design, permit and construct two new public-safety facilities known as Station 30 and Station 31, based on an estimated price range of $14.1 million to $15 million and contingent on the selection of an owners representative by the city manager or designee.

The contract covers turnkey design and construction, including fixtures and equipment needed to occupy the buildings when construction is complete. "The budget for the station includes turnkey design and construction for 2 stations," Chief Siri told the council during the presentation. Siri said the certificate of obligation issued in 2023 and a partnership with HEDCNBC provided funding for the project.

City staff and the contractor described the project as intended to reduce response times, improve coverage for overlapping incidents, potentially improve the city—s ISO rating and support public-safety recruitment. Station 30 will replace the existing facility at 300 Chris Cooney Boulevard and will include space for Ladder 30, a brush unit, DPS operations and administration, an emergency operations center, training room, property/evidence, criminal investigations and the SRO unit. Station 31 will be new construction at 1284 FM 740 on a city-owned lot adjacent to public works; it will house Engine 31, a reserve engine and DPS operations.

Eric Grossman of Grossman Design Build described his firm—s design-build approach and previous municipal projects and said the team expects to develop geotechnical, topographic and engineering work and return to council with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) after roughly 90 to 120 days of detailed work. Grossman said the design-build method allows the team to refine costs and value-engineer as engineering and bids are developed.

Council members pressed the contractor and staff on contract details. Councilman Dodson expressed concern about a contract clause that allows material-price escalation up to 15 percent and asked that the range be tightened to reduce the city—s exposure. The contractor said the GMP will be presented to council before construction and that subcontracts would be locked immediately after GMP approval to limit further price increases. Dodson also requested that the contract include mutual indemnification; staff and the contractor confirmed they had worked with the city attorney on indemnification language.

Additional clarifying details discussed during the meeting: Station 30 was described in the presentation as roughly 25,000 square feet and Station 31 as about 9,800—6,000 to 10,000 square feet; Station 30 includes seven bunks (two doubles) and Station 31 includes six bunks. The chief said SAFER grant application work was underway with an anticipated submission by July and notification of selection expected in September or October. The contractor presented a contractual schedule that allocated design and construction time into 2027; staff noted those dates are contractual allowances and subject to change.

Action: a council member moved to approve the contract as presented, contingent on selection of an owner representative; the motion was seconded and "passed unanimously" by voice vote. The motion text on the record was: "I move to approve the contract with Grossman Design Build based upon the estimated price range of 14.1 to 15,000,000 and contingent upon the selection of an owner representative as selected by the city manager or designee." The record shows a second by Councilman Umby and a unanimous voice vote; no roll-call tally by name appears in the transcript.

The contract funds do not include ongoing personnel costs for additional staffing, Chief Siri said; city staff indicated future personnel and operating costs will be addressed in upcoming budgets and, if awarded, in consultation with the new city manager.

The council—s approval authorizes staff to proceed with design, engineering and preparation of a GMP, after which the city will receive a firm price and a schedule for construction start. The contractor said it intends to return to the council within months with the GMP and then begin procurement and subcontracting immediately on approval.