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Staff urges moving ahead on Nolensville police headquarters design despite sewer uncertainty
Summary
Town staff recommended continuing design-development for a police headquarters rather than stopping at schematic design, citing rising construction costs and re‑mobilization risk; action depends on a future sewer commitment from Metro Water.
Town staff asked the Board of Commissioners on April 27 to give direction on the next phase of design for a proposed police headquarters and to weigh two paths: stop at schematic design until the town secures a formal sewer commitment from Metro Water, or continue into design development (roughly 70% complete) and engage a construction manager at‑risk to help control costs.
Assistant Town Manager Chuck Dunham framed the choice: completing design development would allow the project to be bid or delivered more efficiently and would let the town hire a construction manager at‑risk to help contain cost escalation. He told the board staff expects to submit the schematic package to the architect later in the week and anticipated an 18–24 month design‑and‑build cycle. “We would hate…to see the project basically lose momentum at this point,” Dunham said, noting supply‑chain pressures and recent material price increases.
Staff acknowledged a key constraint: the town does not yet have a firm Metro Water commitment to provide sewer service sized for the full police facility. Dunham explained that an existing sewer swap near a public works site provides only a residential equivalent and is insufficient for a full police facility. Commissioners asked about timing and options; several favored continuing design work while staff pursues sewer coordination and pricing exercises that would give an order‑of‑magnitude cost estimate if the board elects to stop at schematic design and gather additional pricing data.
Mayor and several commissioners signaled support for advancing design development so the town does not lose momentum, but the board stressed that moving forward depends on further conversation with Metro Water and interim steps for cost transparency. Staff said it will return with the completed schematic package and a recommendation for formal authorization to enter design development and procurement for a construction manager at‑risk.
