Oklahoma County committees receive ARPA project updates; elevator work on schedule, waterproofing issue may require variance

Oklahoma County committees on June 5 received updates on ARPA-funded facility projects, including schedules for multiple elevator installations and a possible regulatory variance for persistent water intrusion in a Metro 2 elevator pit.

William White, introduced as the owner’s representative for the ARPA projects, told the infrastructure committee that work on the JJC elevator is slated to start June 22 with a planned completion date of Oct. 19, 2026, and that the schedule remains within contractual guidelines. "Our plans start date is June 22nd with an October 19th, 2026 completion at JJC Elevators," White said. He was referred to as “Bill” later in the meeting.

Stacy, a county staff member who presented a capital-budget update for TIFF 2 and TIFF 2A, said she had revised the spreadsheet attached to the agenda to add projects and adjust dates. "I updated that spreadsheet that was attached to your agenda," Stacy said. The committee moved, seconded and approved a motion to receive the budget update by voice vote.

On access and security, staff and White reviewed proposed changes to the NX Security front entrance. They said an original design developed with Homeland Security had separated entrance and exit and used a tunnel, but leadership rejected that plan in favor of a design prioritizing convenience. Sheriff security has expressed concern that an employee entrance is being used by the public and recommended making the west opening the badge-access employee entry to preserve equipment and improve flow. Committee members asked that sheriff/security staff attend the next infrastructure meeting to clarify which courthouse entrances will remain public and which will be badge-access only.

County staff reported the courthouse elevator remains on schedule for an end-of-June completion. Annex elevators have passed labor-department inspection and staff plan to finish a punch list this week and turn the units over for operation. A later set of elevators is under contract for a Dec. 1 completion date.

Staff also briefed members on the behavioral health services facility, reporting progress on exterior hard surfaces and envelope work. For operations, staff said they prepared a maintenance job description, sent it to human resources and identified seven in-house applicants; county employees will begin half-day familiarization training next week with Flint Co's subcontractors. Staff requested a line item for stipends to continue training beyond September if the facility remains in use.

At the PBA advisory committee meeting that followed, White (referred to as "Bill" during that session) reported outstanding signage owed to the sheriff's portion of the project and reiterated that ARPA funding is expected to be expended by September. Keith, a county staff member, described recent work in Metro 2 elevator pits: crews cleaned and dried pits, dried seams, and injected waterproofing, but a northwest corner continues to show low-level moisture from what he described as hydrostatic wicking. "We'll have to seek a variance from the elevator inspector," Keith said, adding that staff have consulted Oklahoma City about nearby irrigation systems and performed seam gouging and filler injection as remediation.

Committee members moved and seconded motions to accept the presenters' reports; motions were approved by voice vote. The infrastructure and PBA advisory committees had no public participants and adjourned after the scheduled business.

The committees asked that sheriff/security personnel attend the next infrastructure meeting to clarify public access vs. badge-only entries and to discuss the proposed employee entrance change. Staff said they would pursue a variance from the state elevator inspector for Metro 2 if remediation does not stop the moisture intrusion.