Ellis County approves $1.84 million design–build contract for law enforcement center renovation

Ellis County commissioners on May 19 approved multiple purchase orders to renovate the county's Law Enforcement Center, including a $1,839,900 design–build contract with PWC and $122,914 for new dispatch consoles.

County Administrator Darin Myers told the commission staff reviewed three proposals and recommended PWC, which proposed Tessere for design services. Myers corrected an agenda figure during the presentation: "the amount is $77,680 not the $477,680 listed in the agenda," referring to the plumbing contractor PO 7991. Commissioners approved purchase orders 7991–7998 by a voice vote of 3–0.

The approved package includes PO 7998 to PWC ($1,839,900), PO 7997 to Xybix for dispatch consoles ($122,914.05), PO 7992 to INA Alert for security cameras ($73,544.84), PO 7995 (adjusted Glassman cooler work) $30,710, and other electrical and moving costs (PO 7993, PO 7994, PO 7996). Myers said the assembled line items result in total LEC costs of $2,109,661.34 and left the project about $496,435 under the overall bond budget, while warning change orders remain possible in a renovation of this scale.

Sheriff Scott Braun said the department will gain needed food storage capacity with a walk‑in cooler and noted inter-county cooperation: "we are fortunate to be working with Dickinson County," referencing the sheriff's prior arrangement for food storage during construction. Project staff said a design kickoff meeting was tentatively scheduled for May 27, with basement work expected to begin in July 2026 and substantive completion projected by mid‑2027, subject to plan review and any change orders.