The Oconto County Board on Thursday approved nearly $2 million for services related to the construction of a law enforcement center to be built adjacent to the courthouse in Oconto.
Potter Lawson was selected to design the facility at a cost of $1,275,700, just under the $1.3 million budgeted by the county. The design phase is expected to take about a year, with construction of the $25 million center scheduled to begin in 2015.
The law enforcement center will be built in a residential area near the courthouse to replace an outdated facility in the courthouse complex that needs major updates and has limited capacity.
Potter Lawson, of Madison, employs about 30 people who specialize in architecture and interior design. The firm will work with mechanical and civil engineers, food service specialists and security consultants for the project, according to Eric Lawson, president of Potter Lawson.
“We do projects throughout the state of Wisconsin—lots of different types of projects—but one of our focuses is correctional work. And we’ve done a lot,” he said.
Supervisor Gary Frank cast the only vote against selecting Potter Lawson. He told the Times Herald after the meeting he preferred working with a firm located closer to Oconto County.
Potter Lawson will review a 2009 jail and sheriff’s facility site study prepared for Oconto County by Kimme & Associates, an Illinois firm that specializes in criminal justice system planning, and Quantic Architecture, of Appleton.
Consultant Kurt Berner, vice president of The Samuels Group Inc., said Potter Lawson will work closely with county officials and Sheriff Mike Jansen to determine how the facility should look.
“Sheriff has made it very clear to us that security and staff efficiency are very important,” Berner said.
The city of Oconto’s ad hoc committee composed of residents and city leaders will also be a part of the design process. The committee has met to discuss the aesthetics of the building, parking, utilities and other issues.
Supervisors also agreed to continue working with The Samuels Group Inc., consultants who helped the county select a design firm. Oconto County will pay the Wausau firm 2.9 percent of the $25 million construction cost (not more than $580,000) to provide construction services.
“We need to have somebody to help us with this project,” Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann said. “We don’t have the expertise on our staff, and we don’t have the time to take care of these things.”
Berner said the fee will cover the cost of accounting management, project management and a project administrator who will work at the home office. However, the fee does not cover a full-time superintendent and project manager working at the site during construction, each earning $85 an hour.
“It could be really big bucks,” said Supervisor Rose Stellmacher, who asked for a cost estimate.
Berner said construction will take 14 months, but he could not give a firm price for construction services over that period.
“At the end of schematic design, when we finalize what that construction schedule will be … we would lock into what that fee is,” Berner said.
Considering the uncertainty, the board amended its resolution requiring these fees to be approved by supervisors at a later date.
Samuels Group will also provide preconstruction services for a fee of $18,200. These services will include cost estimating, budget and schedule/phasing development, value analysis and constructability review, assistance with request for proposals and bid documents, public bidding, subcontractor prequalification and selection, attendance at design meetings and providing progress updates.
Berner said his firm will break the project into bid packages, making it feasible for local contractors to submit bids.
“We know that it’s a goal to keep as much of the work locally here, but that you also have the public side here that needs to be competitive,” he said.
Samuels Group will also provide a third service—reviewing the design prepared by Potter Lawson—for a fee of $6,800.
The County Board also expanded its contract with SRF Consulting of Madison, a firm hired in March to oversee the acquisition of 14 properties in the neighborhood of the law enforcement center.
SRF will perform additional services of asbestos and hazardous contaminants investigation, property management and property sales and disposal services, for a cost of not more than $64,710. The hourly rate for these services is $150, plus expenses.
Frank again cast the only vote opposing the contract.
“I think we could’ve managed that in house,” he told the Times Herald.
Funds for the contracts approved Thursday will be provided from the $3 million capital projects fund the county established to cover the initial costs of the law enforcement center project.
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