Ellis County awards $3.13 million renovation contract to Christman; moves project funds into FF&E and subcourthouse work

Ellis County Commissioners Court approved awarding CSP2025-001 to the Christman Company for renovation of the Courts and Administration building and approved related budget line-item transfers during its regular meeting. The contract award was for $3,127,655 with a 10% contingency; commissioners also approved transfers reallocating contingency and FF&E funds among county building projects.

The contract solicitation, CSP2025-001, was released Nov. 4, publicly advertised and closed Jan. 13. Seven general contractors responded. An evaluation team made up of District Judge Doug Wallace; Lindy Beatty, district attorney; Crystal Valdez, county clerk; Ryan Garrett, chief of staff for the county judge; and Captain David Gardner of the sheriff’s office rated four firms highest (Christman Company, Northridge Construction Group, McGough Construction and Source Building Group). The four firms provided presentations and best-and-final offers; the evaluation committee recommended Christman Company “based on the evaluation process,” subject to successful contract negotiation and county attorney approval.

Chad Teeples, project executive with Christman Company, told the commissioners the firm had received the building permit and expected to be ready to start work once the contract is executed. Teeples said the schedule allows roughly 270 calendar days for construction and time for a punch list ahead of turnover.

Ryan Garrett, chief of staff for the county judge, explained an associated financial consent item (F1) that reallocated project dollars. Garrett said the county separated furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) from the building line to clarify asset accounting and depreciation. He said the FF&E for the Ellis County Central building is budgeted at about $1,300,000 and that contingency previously held in the Courts and Administration project would be moved to cover current needs and free remaining contingency for other projects.

County officials noted the renovation bids came in well below earlier estimates. “We came in thinking we would spend around 5 or 6,000,000. We just approved a contract, or just approved a bid for 3,100,000,” a county official said, noting the lower-than-expected bid leaves funding available for other county projects.

The court voted to approve the contract award and the line-item transfers. The award to Christman was recorded as approved; the record also shows approval of the following transfers as presented by staff: a decrease in soft costs for the Courts and Administration building of $850,000; a reduction in hard costs of $1,150,000; an increase for JP2 Sub Courthouse of $692,381.33; and an increase of approximately $1,300,000 for FF&E for the Ellis County Central building.

The commissioners voted to approve item 2.7 (CSP2025-001) and item F1 during the meeting. Commissioners made the motions and seconded them in open session and the motions carried without recorded opposition.