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Okeechobee County accepts jail expansion closeout report; board approves bond redemption and small GMP adjustment
Summary
County commissioners received a final progress report on the multi‑year jail expansion project, approved a partial redemption of sales-tax bonds projected to save roughly $2.1 million, and authorized a $67,000 owner change order to reconcile direct-purchase items in the GMP.
The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners on Monday accepted a final progress report on the county jail expansion and renovation project and approved related financial housekeeping intended to save the county money.
The project team, represented at the meeting by the construction manager (speaker 16) and the design lead (speaker 17), told commissioners the phased work corrected long-standing infrastructure issues, added program and ADA-compliant space and used prefabricated modular cells to speed installation. "We designed a facility that... extends the life of that jail and that site a minimum of 40 years," the design lead said, summarizing the multi‑stage planning and construction process.
Why it matters: The project addressed chronic overcrowding and failing underfloor plumbing while adding four classrooms, indoor recreation areas and modernized kitchens that also serve senior meal programs, presenters said. Commissioners praised county staff and the sheriff's office for their roles in phasing construction to minimize operational disruption.
Money and motions: County staff also asked the board to authorize a partial redemption of up to $1,000,000 of the Series 2024B half‑cent sales tax revenue bonds. Finance staff said the action would reduce the life‑of‑bond costs by about $2.1 million and shave approximately two years off the bond term. The board voted unanimously to proceed.
Separately, the board approved an owner change order that increases the project’s guaranteed maximum price by $67,000 to reconcile direct‑purchase line items with actual costs. Project staff said the change is primarily an accounting reconciliation tied to direct purchases and will be administered under the existing warranty and closeout procedures; commissioners approved the change order unanimously.
Next steps: Staff will schedule an 11‑month post‑occupancy walkthrough with the sheriff’s office and contractors as part of the warranty closeout process. The partial redemption paperwork will be executed by the chair, and county staff will return with any required follow‑on documents.
At the meeting: The final progress presentation and the GMP change‑order request occurred during the project closeout segment; the partial bond redemption was presented later in the agenda by finance staff (speaker 14) and approved by motion.
