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DeSoto supervisors approve Landers Center expansion bids and Safe Room plans
Summary
The DeSoto County Board approved most Landers Center expansion bid packages (05 A–R, excluding 05-P), keeping the project about $4 million under budget, and authorized plans and payment for a new Safe Room designed to shelter about 620 people and match Agri‑Education Center architecture.
The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5 approved the majority of construction bid packages for the Landers Center expansion and signed off on plans for a new Safe Room at the Agri‑Education complex.
Doug Thornton, who presented the Landers bid results, said the received bids for packages A–R put the project at roughly $43 million, about $4 million under the projected budget. The Board approved all packages except 05‑P, the fire‑suppression package, which will be re‑bid because the lone proposer omitted a certificate of responsibility number. "This puts the project at $43M, which is still $4M under projected budget," Thornton said.
Thornton told the Board that the project covers masonry, millwork, fireproofing, glazing, concrete floor finishes, and the mechanical, plumbing and electrical trades, and that parking completion is a priority. He said once completed the site will provide roughly 80% of required parking for a full venue, with room available for additional gravel parking if the county later opts to expand. The Board authorized the Board President to sign the related documents.
Separately, Allen & Hoshall manager Cory Lowery and Thornton presented plans for a new Safe Room adjacent to the Agri‑Education Center. Designers said the site plan includes 155 parking spaces and that, assuming three to four occupants per vehicle, the shelter could accommodate about 620 people. Lowery described structural and resilience features: "The windows of the Safe Room are storm graded at 2.5 inches thick, with the exterior walls being 10 inches of concrete plus additional insulation," he said. The Board approved the Safe Room plans with possible exception of detention‑area ground work and authorized payment of the associated invoice.
Waggoner Engineering later advised the Board that related Agri‑Education access and trail projects were progressing: the HWY 51 access road was declared substantially complete pending thermoplastic striping and the multi‑use trail segment received a partial maintenance release while retaining contractor liability for erosion control.
The Board’s approvals were unanimous. Next steps include re‑advertising bid package 05‑P and, for the Safe Room, refining detention work and finalizing construction scheduling. The Landers Center team said parking work (about $1 million) and some theater renovations and elevator items would be bid in the coming months.
