Task force forms subcommittee and asks for cost comparisons and geotech studies ahead of Oct. funding milestones

During the Sept. 5 Riverton State Office Task Force meeting, members agreed to create a smaller subcommittee to work directly with the design team and the State Building Commission on project milestones and budgetary reviews.

The task force chair proposed forming the subcommittee to streamline decisionmaking during the SBC and budget process; Representative Larson and Representative Nicholas volunteered (or were assigned) as co‑chairs, and Director McCombie and his staff will participate. The chair said the narrower group would be “more efficient of everybody’s time” for technical and budget queries.

Committee members asked the design team and staff to provide two comparative cost estimates: (1) clearing and vacating the building to complete renovation more quickly and (2) carrying out staged construction while portions of the building remain occupied. Design and construction representatives said vacating the building can produce contractor savings but add moving and rental costs; a construction manager at risk (CMAR) delivery method was recommended for larger, more complex packages, while smaller Tier 1 work could be bid traditionally.

Members also asked staff to pursue additional geotechnical and hydrological investigations in lower‑lying, irrigated portions of the site before committing to heavy site construction, and to examine local office space options in Riverton for potential swing space for agencies such as the Department of Family Services or driver licensing while work is underway. The task force set immediate schedule milestones: final Level 1 report targeted for Oct. 4, a State Building Commission briefing on Oct. 9 and the JAC (Joint Appropriations Committee) review in the week of Dec. 9.