Macon-Bibb commission approves $17,500 preconstruction contract with Warren Associates for law-enforcement center after 6–2 vote
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Summary
After debate over past construction performance and possible conflicts tied to the vendor’s local affiliations, the Macon-Bibb County Commission voted 6–2 on Dec. 16 to authorize $17,500 in preconstruction services and retain Warren Associates as construction manager at risk for a proposed law-enforcement center expansion. Commissioners Stewart and Bryant voted no.
The Macon-Bibb County Commission voted 6–2 on Dec. 16 to authorize $17,500 in preconstruction services and to retain Warren Associates as the construction manager at risk for an expansion and upgrade of the county law-enforcement center.
Mayor Lester M. Miller introduced the resolution, saying the agreement would pay a $17,500 preconstruction fee and set a construction-management fee at 1.74% of the total cost. He told commissioners that the preconstruction phase is intended to get contractors on site, gather measurements and provide a final construction price for later commission approval.
"This is just a preliminary information, just like we did the arena already to come back with some estimates on what we need to do to kind of come up with initial drawings in the build," Miller said during the discussion.
The item drew sustained questioning from multiple commissioners. Commissioner Bryant raised concerns about durability of past jail construction and asked for assurances that fixtures such as locks and other hard infrastructure would be tested and proven before wide deployment. Commissioner Stewart and others pressed whether the selected firm’s prior relationships — specifically a local association with groups that work with the sheriff’s office — presented a conflict of interest.
County legal counsel responded that the procurement went out for public bid, that multiple bidders responded and that staff and a committee evaluated proposals on cost and qualifications. Counsel said there was no legal or ethical conflict arising from the vendor’s local affiliations.
Commissioner Bronson asked for more oversight at the final contract vote, including participation by the sheriff and his staff to answer technical questions about security systems and materials. Mayor Miller agreed that the sheriff’s office and architects would be available when the final construction cost and contract come back before the commission.
Despite those concerns, the commission approved the preconstruction authorization 6–2; Commissioners Stanley Stewart and Bryant voted against the motion, with at least one commissioner saying their vote reflected worry about appearance and potential reputational risk even if counsel found no legal bar to proceeding.
Next steps: the construction manager will begin preconstruction work to refine designs and cost estimates; the commission will vote on the full construction contract once the final price is presented.
