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Spalding County moves to hire architect to ready Elections Office for November
Summary
At a March 16 workshop the Spalding County Board reviewed two architect proposals for an Elections Office renovation, heard staff recommend the lower-cost, faster schedule option, and tasked staff to seek bids and explore extending sprinklers through the building; funding would come from fund balance.
At a March 16 workshop the Spalding County Board of Commissioners reviewed plans to renovate the county Elections Office and asked staff to pursue architect-led design work that could be completed in time for the November election.
Brian Upson of LJA told the board the county received two proposals from its architects of record for design services: LDD Blue Line for $73,730 and CLP for $123,400. Upson said LDD Blue Line could meet the schedule goal of delivering work in time for November, and staff recommended the lower-priced, faster option.
"The least expensive was also the fastest," Upson said, recommending LDD Blue Line because it could meet the schedule. He said the $73,730 figure covers architectural services only; the total renovation of the election center is currently estimated in the transcript at "between four and 700 [thousand]" dollars.
Commissioners pressed staff on safety measures and scope. The board emphasized the need for a sprinkler system in renovated areas that will host early voting and office operations. Kim Slaughter, identified in the meeting as the elections superintendent, confirmed the renovated election office area would be sprinklered and noted the county moved more than 23,312 people through that area during the November election, making safety a priority.
Several commissioners questioned why the county would renovate only part of the former food-depot building when other county programs (Veterans Affairs, Leisure Services, an athletic Hall of Fame) occupy adjacent spaces. Board members instructed staff to seek a second bid or extend the architect’s scope to evaluate sprinkling the remainder of the building instead of a piecemeal approach.
Upson said his team will act as program manager, serve as liaison with the architect and help keep the project on schedule. The board indicated funding for the architectural fee and the renovation would come from the county’s fund balance; staff said funds were available to proceed.
The board agreed to place a contract to engage architect services (the item described in the packet) on the evening (6:00 p.m.) meeting agenda for formal consideration and possible approval. The board did not take final contract action at the workshop.
The board also directed staff to phase construction, prioritizing the election-area work so early voting would not be disrupted. Staff reported contractors had inspected water intrusion at rear doors and parapet wall areas and had identified door seals and one roof spot as sources of water entry; repairs and sealing are planned as part of the scope.
Next steps: staff will return with a second bid or an expanded architect scope to cover sprinkling the remainder of the building, provide refined cost and schedule estimates, and present the contract for approval at the scheduled evening meeting.
