Brookings council approves contracts to build police storage and training building funded by private donation

The City Council of Brookings on Feb. 24 authorized the city manager to enter into agreements with three subcontractors to construct a police storage and training building at the Public Works upper yard at 715 Railroad Street, funded in part by a donation from the John G. Atkins Foundation.

Council action matters because the agreement moves a donated, earmarked contribution toward shore-up storage and training space for the police department and uses the city as the project general contractor after an earlier round of bids came in over budget.

Public Works staff said the new building will sit between two existing equipment storage buildings and will house police training equipment, including the Milo system used by officers for scenario training. Staff reported the city initially solicited bids in June 2024 but received a single bid that exceeded budget. The city re-advertised the project in December 2024 and—acting as its own general contractor—collected subcontractor bids. The council was presented with the low responsive bids for three trades and recommended staff enter agreements with those firms.

City staff recommended and the council authorized agreements with the following subcontractors and amounts: Klein Filter Contracting Incorporated for $37,300 for the foundation; Don Kirk Construction Incorporated for $71,462 for framing, roofing and siding; and J and B Painting and Drywall for $28,520 for drywall and interior paint. Staff said the project was expected to break ground in early April with completion targeted for July or August 2025. City staff also noted a typographical error in the published motion: the bid for J and B Painting and Drywall was $28,520, not $10,000 as originally printed.

Public Works staff noted the city has completed other projects in recent years acting as its own general contractor, including the Salmon Run occasion hall, the emergency operations center at City Hall, a restroom/concession building, and shop buildings at Azalea Park, and said prior work produced savings. The donation from the John G. Atkins Foundation was described by staff as earmarked specifically for the City of Brookings to construct this police storage facility.

The motion to authorize the agreements passed unanimously. The vote was recorded as: Councilor Fulton — yes; Councilor Craighead — yes; Councilor Malmgren — yes; Councilor Martin — yes; Mayor — yes. Staff did not record a named mover and seconder in the transcript excerpt presented to the council.