Bonner County authorizes RFQ for administration building remodel amid elevator and ADA accessibility debate

The Bonner County Board of Commissioners authorized the Engineering Department to solicit qualifications from architectural firms to produce design and construction documents for a first-floor remodel of the county administration building.

Spencer Ferguson, who presented the request for the record on behalf of the Engineering Department, said the department intends to solicit qualifications from multiple firms and set a submission deadline of Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. He noted the county will publish the statutory legal advertisement but said direct outreach to regional firms often yields better response rates.

"The Engineering Department would like to request permission to obtain qualifications from interested architectural consulting firms to furnish design and construction documents for the administration building 1st Floor remodel project," Spencer Ferguson said in presenting the request.

Commissioners discussed advertisement strategy and cost (staff estimated a statutory legal ad between roughly $300 and $800 depending on outlets) and asked that the advertising footprint include Spokane-area firms while keeping costs minimal. The board moved and approved a motion to advertise in the county paper at current rates and authorized the RFQ process.

Multiple commissioners also urged the county to address elevator reliability and ADA access in parallel with the RFQ. One commissioner said a new elevator or repairs might eliminate the need to relocate the treasurer’s services to the first floor, while the treasurer (speaker not named in transcript) said her top concerns are maintaining customer access during busy periods and improving office security for staff.

The board discussed rough cost expectations for the remodel; staff and commissioners referenced a working range of about $200,000–$500,000 for a first-floor remodel but noted that final estimates depend on scope, accessibility upgrades, and whether substantial infrastructure work (electrical, data, elevator redesign) is needed. Engineering recommended that the RFQ include a clear set of design objectives and ask shortlisted firms to provide truncated conceptual alternatives that might reduce cost or improve outcomes.

The Engineering Department will post the RFQ and assemble a review team, including project staff, to rank qualifications and return a recommended design team and scope to the board. Commissioners requested preliminary elevator cost estimates from Facilities to run in parallel with the RFQ work so the board can weigh trade-offs between repair/replacement and remodel scope.