The Grundy County Law Enforcement Committee has agreed to hire White Cloud Engineering and Construction, Inc. to provide services related to the possible construction of a new jail facility following a meeting held Monday night at the courthouse.
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The Grundy County Law Enforcement Committee has agreed to hire White Cloud Engineering and Construction, Inc. to provide services related to the possible construction of a new jail facility following a meeting held Monday night at the courthouse.
The committee unanimously voted to hire the firm , with Brock Pfost outlining in a letter the services he will provide, which include meeting with various qualified firms to establish cost estimates for the facility, coordinating with a drafting technician and artist to produce visual aids for the campaign, development of site work cost estimates and attendance at monthly progress meetings or at other designated times.
In his letter, Pfost said he and Mark Endecott, who is affiliated with the company, will provide support services to the advisory committee dealing with the construction management items required prior to placement of the issue on the November ballot. The fees for the services he listed will be billed at the rate of $70 per hour, with the total not to exceed $2,000 in hourly fees up to the time of the vote. In addition, there will be expenses, artist and draftsman costs, etc. The amount of those costs are unknown, but he indicated they could be kept to a minimum if local expertise is available.
Assuming the issue passes in November, the company could provide services as the construction manager for the project, with those fees and expenses to be negotiated at that time. Pfost indicated he would need about 60 days to arrange the conceptual drawings and cost estimates for the project.
In other business, the committee looked over a rough floor plan for a county/city jail complex that had been developed by Grundy County Sheriff Greg Coon and Trenton Police Chief Bob Lewis. The plans call for a 34-bed facility that would house 22 men and 12 women and have two holding cells.
Grundy County Presiding Commission Kenny Roberts gave an update on the grant that is being sought for funding to help acquire the former Nisbeth-Seidel building and said that it is not yet known if the county will receive any or part of the $300,000 sought. Roberts also said negotiations continue with the firm of Shaughnessy, Fickel and Scott Architects, Inc., over what amount the county will have to pay for architectural services. The county has terminated its contract with the firm and commissioners feel that since Mike Fickel, who served as the architect, was unwilling to design a facility that the county can afford, the county should not have to pay the $22,500 it had been billed. At present, Fickel has said the county should at least have to pay $18,000, but commissioners are protesting that amount. Roberts said the county may end up paying $10,000. Currently, the committee is looking into the possibility of constructing a metal-type building that would meet the needs of the county and still be affordable.
The committee plans to meet with Pfost at noon, Thursday. The group will first meet at the courthouse and then travel to Lakeview Restaurant for lunch.