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Commissioners review coroner/EMS renovation plans and phased bidding as costs range from design estimates to higher probable costs
Summary
Architects and facilities staff presented plans and a bid schedule for the coroner/EMS remodel; initial rough orders of magnitude ranged from roughly $358,000 for core items to a probable-cost total near $790,000 when HVAC, permits and alternates are included. Staff discussed phasing, negative-pressure HVAC, temporary operations and procurement options.
County architects and facilities staff presented detailed plans and cost estimates for the coroner and EMS office renovation at the March 10 workshop, outlining a fast bid schedule and a phased approach to keep operations functioning during construction.
The architect said the team planned to advertise on March 16, hold a pre-bid on April 2 and receive bids on April 20, with the earliest construction start in late spring or summer depending on final approvals and bidding. He described a focused scope — limited demolition, new office partitions, a controlled-access cooler and a code-compliant autopsy room with specialized HVAC and exhaust — and provided preliminary budget figures. At one point the presenter cited a prior rough-order estimate of about $358,000 for the main items; later, a more detailed probable-cost summary reached roughly $790,000 when HVAC upgrades, special inspections, fees and permit costs were included.
Facilities manager Daryl Dunnigan urged the board to adopt tighter maintenance and storage policies for new equipment and agreed on two procurement options: use a single general contractor to manage all trades (roof, electrical, HVAC, finishes) or break the work into major-structure and finishing contracts to encourage local subcontractors. County counsel reminded commissioners that artificially splitting contracts to fall below competitive-bid thresholds is not permitted and argued the county should evaluate whether discrete elements are genuinely separable before choosing procurement strategy.
Key safety and operational issues included ensuring negative pressure and high-capacity exhaust for the autopsy room so odors and exhaust air are directed outside the building, maintaining privacy and minimizing disruption to daily operations through temporary walls and phased sequencing. Staff said alternates (such as an exterior canopy) would be bid so the board could choose options after reviewing bids.
Why it matters: the renovation equips county coroner and EMS functions with code-compliant autopsy and secure cooler space and aims to consolidate services while limiting long-term maintenance costs. The significant gap between early estimates and probable costs — and the presence of specialized HVAC and exhaust systems — means commissioners must balance budget constraints, procurement rules and operational continuity.
Next steps: staff will finalize bid documents, advertise per the schedule discussed, and return with bids and recommendations. Commissioners did not approve a final contract at the workshop.
