Cortland board designates design-build option for Community Center improvement

The Village of Cortland Board on Feb. 11 approved Resolution 2026-01 to apply the Nebraska Political Subdivision Construction Alternatives Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-2901 et seq.) and to pursue a design-build contract delivery system for the planned Community Center Improvement project.

The move, read into the record by Chairperson Kohout, authorizes the board, clerk, village attorney or their representatives to issue requests for letters of interest and requests for proposals and to negotiate a design-build contract under the village’s Construction Alternatives Policy. The resolution cites potential savings in cost and time as the rationale for selecting design-build over traditional delivery methods.

Board members voted to approve the resolution; the motion passed and the board authorized staff to proceed with procurement steps, including distributing Exhibit A (the Construction Alternatives Policy) that is available at the village clerk’s office. Village Attorney Jena Mahin explained the statutory basis for the resolution and said the policy sets forth procedures for entering construction alternatives contracts.

The action directs staff to solicit proposals and evaluate respondents under the policy. The board did not adopt a contract or select a specific firm at the Feb. 11 meeting; those are expected to follow procurement and evaluation steps outlined in the approved policy.

The next procedural steps are issuance of letters of interest/RFPs and evaluation of responses; the resolution empowers village officials to negotiate a design-build contract in accordance with the Construction Alternatives Act and the village’s policy.