Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facility Relocation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board discusses moving dispatch center to basement, hears $530k–$618k estimate and agrees to seek design RFQ
Summary
Board members discussed relocating the dispatch center to a basement space with fiber and generator access, heard a Sol Harris Day estimate of roughly $530,000–$618,000 for construction and a 10% (£50k–$60k) architecture fee, and agreed to issue an RFQ while staff explores funding.
A board member reopened old business on July 7, proposing the dispatch center move into a basement space that already has a backup generator, site security and a fiber loop connection to the radio tower. The member said selecting that space could reduce construction cost compared with new build‑out.
The presenter gave size and cost estimates provided informally by architecture firm Sol Harris Day: the space is about 3,530 square feet, build‑out costs were estimated at $150–$175 per square foot, and the total construction estimate was "somewhere $530,000 to $618,000." He added that architectural fees are typically about 10% of construction cost, putting those fees in the $50,000–$60,000 range.
Council members pressed for clarity on the COG’s reserve position before committing money. One member asked, “where are we financially with our reserve, and how much do we need to logically keep in that reserve,” noting the need to understand annual excess and the effect of reduced customers. Speakers noted Coventry’s departure as a customer will tighten the budget and cited a prior carryover figure of about $300,000.
Despite budget uncertainty, members generally agreed to proceed with an RFQ to obtain formal design figures and to use the next three months to investigate funding options; they concluded that assembling an RFQ does not itself constitute an expenditure requiring a formal motion. The board directed staff to prepare the RFQ, ensure compliance with notice requirements and return with refined numbers and funding options.
