Kootenai County commissioners approve Global line for Justice Center desks, contingent on tariff letter

Kootenai County commissioners approved purchase of the Global Furnishings product line for desks at the county’s Justice Building at a special Building & Grounds meeting on March 6, 2025, voting 3-0 to proceed provided a vendor letter holding tariff terms is upheld.

The vote covers a procurement of 65 desk units and—based on staff estimates discussed in the meeting—represents a roughly $19,000 difference between the higher- and lower-cost options presented. Director Jeff Fuller of Building and Grounds told commissioners that Contract Design, the county’s furniture consultant, priced multiple U.S.-based manufacturers and that Global Furnishings and HBC were the two primary contenders for desks. Fuller said Contract Design would complete a full-package price for the chosen line, including conference tables and judges’ chambers.

The decision followed a technical discussion of construction materials, warranties and field experience. Gwen Gunzel of Contract Design explained that the county’s selected commercial options generally use a thermally fused melamine surface over a particle-board substrate compressed…