Council hears update on Wildwood Plaza police facility; target budget below $10 million with two garage options

Marshfield city staff and Kramer Brothers gave the council a detailed update on plans to renovate Wildwood Plaza as a new police facility, including design trade-offs to keep the project near the council's $10 million building cost target.

Chief Jody Gurrenk summarized the project history: a 2023 feasibility study found the current police department outgrown its space and identified Wildwood Plaza as a viable replacement. The project team removed an on-site shooting range and a separate cold-storage addition to reduce cost and avoid variances; both functions would be met through existing off-site facilities in the near term.

Kyle Kramer, construction manager for Kramer Brothers, said current drawings are about 25–30% complete and that the team is producing a target budget and component takeoffs. Kramer said the design will be priced with both a full-size garage and a reduced garage option; early pricing has the project just under $10 million with the reduced garage. The team plans design development drawings in mid-April, a GMP budgeting phase through May, and a public bidding window after construction documents are complete. The procurement timeline anticipates starting construction after Labor Day and owner move-in in June–July 2027.

Kramer discussed major cost categories (site work, general construction, MEP, equipment) and recommended early procurement on long-lead items such as precast wall panels to avoid supply delays. Councilmembers asked about cold storage contingency plans and the team said replacement options near the new facility would be modest projects. Kramer said construction contingency rates will decline as design matures and that any unused contingency will be returned to the police department project account.

Next steps: staff will return with a refined guaranteed maximum price in mid–late May and additional budget detail for council consideration.