Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Justice Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teton County commissioners keep temporary modular courtrooms next door despite higher costs
Summary
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 27 directed staff to proceed with modular temporary offices and courtrooms adjacent to the Justice Center after hearing that the modular package will cost about $5.9 million and that other early subcontract bids for the main project came in under earlier estimates.
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 27 directed staff to proceed with modular temporary offices and courtrooms located adjacent to the Justice Center project, despite updated cost estimates higher than earlier ‘‘back‑of‑the‑napkin’’ figures.
Commissioners voted after a workshop presentation from General Services Administrator Jody Pond and the project's owners' representatives, who reported a purchase+fit‑out estimate for the modulars of about $5,900,000 and explained why that figure rose as the design team added court‑specific security, IT and circulation requirements. ‘‘We added scope when it became clear the modulars needed to accommodate jury trials and custody movement,’’ the owners' representative said, describing security and adjacency needs that increased the square footage and complexity.
Why it matters: staff and the owners' representatives said the increases do not jeopardize the overall Justice Center construction budget. Jason Berning, owners' rep, and Tom Ference, project lead, told the board that early subcontractor bids for several construction packages on the main Justice Center project came back approximately $3 million below prior estimates, and that the overall $90 million construction estimate remains intact.
The board discussed an alternate strategy — leasing or adapting nearby retail space — but commissioners and staff reported limited potential savings once remodeling and design costs were factored and noted that the modulars had already been purchased. Commissioner Gardner said delaying the modulars to pursue the retail option could create schedule risk for the main project and recommended continuing with the modular plan.
What the board directed: continue with the modular units next door, finalize remaining retail/fit‑out questions, and bring regular cost updates to the commission. Staff said further detail on bids, contingency amounts and any potential delay costs will be presented at the next project report.
Quotes are from meeting remarks and staff presentation.
