Kent County approves CIP transfer for hospital demolition; RFP due Nov. 25, demolition could start mid-March
Loading...
Summary
The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 6 to reassign capital funds and to give the building authority responsibility for demolishing the county-owned hospital site; facilities staff said procurement is underway and demolition work could begin in mid-March under a tentative schedule.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 6 adopted resolution 91 to transfer strategic capital (CIP) funds to the facility replacement and renovation project to cover demolition costs and to assign the project to the county's building authority.
Minority Vice Chair MacLeod moved the resolution; Commissioner Hildebrand supported it. The motion passed on a roll-call vote of 21'yes, 0'no.
Commissioners asked about public outreach and the likely timeline for demolition. Tim Gretch, the county facilities director, told the board the administration currently has a demolition request for proposals (RFP) posted with bids due Nov. 25. He said the building authority is scheduled to consider the contract on Dec. 10. If a contractor is selected, Gretch said basement abatement work could start in January or February and full structural demolition could begin in roughly mid-March. He cautioned that demolition operations depend on weather (spraying water during demolition requires regularly above-freezing temperatures).
Gretch said county staff held two public information sessions for neighbors and the public on the project, including an evening open house.
The resolution assigns the demolition work and related project oversight to the building authority and reallocates CIP spending authority to cover demolition costs. County staff did not present a contractor or final cost at the Nov. 6 meeting; procurement will proceed under the RFP schedule described by Gretch.
Commissioners voted to adopt the resolution after the Q&A and roll call.
