Board authorizes design-build RFP for water-treatment and maintenance facility; approves master services agreement with Osborne

The West Geauga Local Board authorized staff to seek design-build proposals for a new water-treatment and maintenance building and approved a master services agreement with Osborne Engineering to assist on facilities planning and capital projects.

The board voted to authorize a request for proposals (RFP) using a design-build approach for the water-treatment and maintenance facility; staff said the district has worked with Osborne and other consultants to develop scope and that preliminary cost estimates have centered around $5 million for a full build. "In that process and after we got the preliminary numbers, we've hovered around that $5,000,000 mark that we've kinda earmarked for that facility," Scott, the district's facilities lead, said. Staff said the RFP will include deduct alternates so proposers can price a full project and lower-cost options (for example, water treatment only, or water treatment plus partial maintenance space).

Scott said the RFP would be advertised and open for approximately six weeks, with review of proposals and potential board action planned for January following the review. Todd Brandt of Osborne Engineering attended and was introduced as the district's consultant; trustees approved a master services agreement with Osborne to support capital projects, facilities engineering and related services. The board noted the water-treatment work is mandatory and the maintenance building is subject to funding availability, so separating alternates in the RFP lets the district seek efficiencies without committing beyond available financing.

Trustees asked about timing and funding and staff said the district expects to know more about funding opportunities and levy outcomes before moving forward on full-build decisions. The board also approved other service contracts and routine personnel and operating resolutions during the meeting.