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Chatham County says EOC project is on schedule and on budget; commissioners press for clearer MWBE tracking
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Summary
County officials reported the multi‑agency emergency operations center is about 20% complete under a roughly $78.6 million construction contract and said MWBE participation is above the 30% contract goal to date; commissioners pressed contractors and the county's MWBE oversight team for clearer documentation on local and minority subcontractor commitments and substitutions.
Director Jones delivered a six‑month progress update on Chatham County's multi‑agency emergency operations center and related site projects, saying the contract with the Reeves Young/Technique joint venture was awarded at roughly $78.6 million and that work is on schedule.
"The project is on schedule," Director Jones said. He described the site at 654 Gulfstream Road — two buildings totaling about 104,000 square feet on a 6‑acre airport parcel — and said foundations and early civil work have been completed. Jones told commissioners the site is being built to hardened standards, designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and an EF‑4 tornado, and will support more than 300 staff for multiple days during disasters.
John Wright, program manager with AECOM, told the board that roughly $15.9 million has been invoiced through five pay applications (about 20% of the contract to date), long‑lead items are ordered and critical permits have been obtained. Wright said the construction team has recorded one administrative change order to reallocate funding streams and reported an overall MWBE participation rate of 37.84% through pay application number five, above the contract goal of 30%.
Commissioners questioned how much of that participation represented Chatham‑area firms and pressed contractors about several subcontractors listed as "TBD" in procurement documents. Commissioner Whiteley said public concern has grown because some named firms on procurement rosters have not yet been confirmed on the ground; she asked for clearer documentation and periodic reporting. Greg Young (Reeves Young) and other contractor representatives said they are working to replace firms that dropped out and to document new local subcontractors; Billy Freeman Jr. of Technique — who said he led outreach and made community commitments early in pursuit of the job — urged follow‑through on earlier commitments.
Director Jones and Robert Gould of RG Media (the MWBE oversight subcontractor working under AECOM) said the county has created a substitution request and documentation process and that AECOM is managing MWBE compliance and pay‑app review. Robert Gould said there are additional subcontractor forms and outreach in progress and that staff will provide the board more detailed lists of local firms and payment status.
On technical issues, Wright said the project has encountered unsuitable soils and coordination challenges with the airport's operations and the City of Savannah on water arrangements; the board heard that the county is negotiating with the city over well/water options and that some related work is ARPA funded. Wright estimated a 3–4% potential exposure from market or scope changes, which he described as within a typical range for a project of this complexity.
Chairman Ellis asked staff to bring a detailed update before walls go up and suggested commissioners visit the site. The board recorded a plan to review MWBE compliance and subcontractor substitutions again before the project reaches 50% completion.
The meeting included brief procedural votes (authorizing an RFQ for paratransit procurement and approving listed budget amendments); the EOC update itself required no board action at the meeting.
