Commission to advertise RFQ for engineering and architectural services; first-floor lease for DA's office discussed

The commission discussed moving forward with a request for statements of qualifications for engineering and architectural services that would be used both for federally funded bridge work and for evaluation of first-floor renovations in the Marshall County Courthouse where the district attorney's office proposes to lease space.

Chair (S1) said the DA’s lease and planned renovations warrant bringing structural, plumbing and electrical expertise into the RFQ so consultants with those specialties will be available to evaluate conditions as work proceeds. "If there's anything out there that could be causing us problems, just work it along as we go or get ahead of it," the chair said.

Staff (S6) and agency engineering (S2) agreed the RFQ (item 11) can include structural qualifications and that engineering firms on the list could attend the same meetings to coordinate evaluations. S6 advised the lease approval and a structural study can proceed in tandem if the commission chooses, or be combined into one motion at the formal meeting.

Commissioners raised concerns about the courthouse's older sections and the possibility of unforeseen structural problems once demolition or renovation begins; one commissioner referenced a neighboring county’s experience where unexpected conditions required relocation during repairs.

No final lease approval was recorded at the work session. Staff recommended adding the phrase "structural" to the RFQ and creating a selectable list of qualified consultants to expedite design and assessment work during renovations.