MONROE - The Green County Ad Hoc Justice Center Committee recommends the J.P. Cullen of Janesville be given the contract to build the justice center.
At its meeting Thursday, the committee passed a resolution to recommend the Green County Board of Supervisors accept Cullen's bid of $11,272,872 to build the justice center.
Cullen's bid was about $349,000 higher than the budgeted $10.9 million for the project. The committee discussed ways to bring the cost of the project down to reach the budgeted amount.
Ron Locast of Potter Lawson, the firm that designed the justice center, presented the committee with about $330,000 in items that could be removed from the justice center to bring the project in line with the amount budgeted.
He told the committee it could cut about $130,000 from the furniture budget of about $430,000 by utilizing some of the furniture the county already has; it could use a different tile for the floors that would save about $28,000; and it could reduce the amount of filing cabinets to save another $25,000.
In addition, the county could make some changes to what kind of pews it buys for the courtroom and eliminate some wood paneling in the building to save another $30,000.
Locast said the changes wouldn't affect the building and said they were mainly aesthetic items.
There are other things, such as lighting and paint color and landscaping, that could further reduce the cost of the building, he added. The county also will be able to keep its $437,000 contingency fund. The money can be used if something unexpected comes up during construction. Locast said he doesn't foresee anything coming up and the county could reduce the fund to about $300,000 if it decides to, but he would recommend the $437,000 remain unchanged for now.
Locast said his firm will discuss other possible savings with J.P. Cullen if the Green County Board approves the contract with the building firm Tuesday at it monthly meeting.
Locast can't talk to Cullen until the board gives its approval for the contract.
The main thing, Locast said, was to reach an agreement with Cullen, which was the low bidder for the project, rather than put the project back out for bids.
He said costs for steel and oil continue to rise, and the county could run into additional costs if it waits for a few months to start construction.
The committee also learned the county has a signed an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for the probation and parole office to lease 2,000 square feet of the justice center building for $15.23 per square foot for 10 years. The county will receive about $30,000 for the space the first year, then rent for the space will increase 3 percent for the next 10 years.
The county has a tentative agreement with the Wisconsin Public Defender's office to lease about 1,000 square feet for $15,230 the first year with increases of 3 percent in rent over the next 10 years.
Demolition of the ag building, located east of the Green County Sheriff's Department, could begin Wednesday if the county board approves the contract with Cullen on Tuesday.
At its meeting Thursday, the committee passed a resolution to recommend the Green County Board of Supervisors accept Cullen's bid of $11,272,872 to build the justice center.
Cullen's bid was about $349,000 higher than the budgeted $10.9 million for the project. The committee discussed ways to bring the cost of the project down to reach the budgeted amount.
Ron Locast of Potter Lawson, the firm that designed the justice center, presented the committee with about $330,000 in items that could be removed from the justice center to bring the project in line with the amount budgeted.
He told the committee it could cut about $130,000 from the furniture budget of about $430,000 by utilizing some of the furniture the county already has; it could use a different tile for the floors that would save about $28,000; and it could reduce the amount of filing cabinets to save another $25,000.
In addition, the county could make some changes to what kind of pews it buys for the courtroom and eliminate some wood paneling in the building to save another $30,000.
Locast said the changes wouldn't affect the building and said they were mainly aesthetic items.
There are other things, such as lighting and paint color and landscaping, that could further reduce the cost of the building, he added. The county also will be able to keep its $437,000 contingency fund. The money can be used if something unexpected comes up during construction. Locast said he doesn't foresee anything coming up and the county could reduce the fund to about $300,000 if it decides to, but he would recommend the $437,000 remain unchanged for now.
Locast said his firm will discuss other possible savings with J.P. Cullen if the Green County Board approves the contract with the building firm Tuesday at it monthly meeting.
Locast can't talk to Cullen until the board gives its approval for the contract.
The main thing, Locast said, was to reach an agreement with Cullen, which was the low bidder for the project, rather than put the project back out for bids.
He said costs for steel and oil continue to rise, and the county could run into additional costs if it waits for a few months to start construction.
The committee also learned the county has a signed an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for the probation and parole office to lease 2,000 square feet of the justice center building for $15.23 per square foot for 10 years. The county will receive about $30,000 for the space the first year, then rent for the space will increase 3 percent for the next 10 years.
The county has a tentative agreement with the Wisconsin Public Defender's office to lease about 1,000 square feet for $15,230 the first year with increases of 3 percent in rent over the next 10 years.
Demolition of the ag building, located east of the Green County Sheriff's Department, could begin Wednesday if the county board approves the contract with Cullen on Tuesday.