Commissioners approve $1.76 million contract to study South County annex site and design

The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously March 25 to award a professional services contract (approx. $1,764,000) to study and design a replacement South County annex.

Commissioner Constance, who pulled the item from the consent agenda, said she supported the work but wanted frequent board touchpoints during site selection and design. "If they think the current site can work, they need to come back and say we've done the analysis, and it'll work, and here's how it'll happen," she said. The county's facilities lead confirmed staff will return to the board at intermediate phases for presentations.

Facilities staff described the contract scope as phased: master planning and programming, schematic and design development, construction documents, permitting, bidding and construction observation. The consultant will prioritize work to stay within the budget parameters set by the board; staff said funding was available in the CIP. Commissioners pressed for clarity about deliverables, hourly rates and how optional services would be treated; senior purchasing staff confirmed the lump‑sum fee covers the negotiated scope and that amendments would be brought back to the board if needed.

The board approved the measure with the understanding that site feasibility findings and any decision to search for alternative sites would return to commissioners for review. Commissioner Deutsch said the board should consider breaking the scope into phases to ensure value and to require the firm to present site alternatives before moving forward with detailed designs.