Douglas County to hire construction manager for new public works facility / LJWorld.com

Douglas County commissioners will be asked Wednesday to select a construction manager to supervise bidding and contracting for a new facility to house the county's Public Works Department.

County officials are recommending McCown Gordon, a firm based in Kansas City, Mo., to manage the project. That firm was chosen from a short list of five firms that were invited to submit formal proposals.

Assistant County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said the firm has done other public building projects in Douglas County, most notably the Bioscience and Technology and Business Center at Kansas University.

The construction manager would be responsible for virtually all aspects of the building project, from writing design specifications and bid documents to hiring subcontractors, supervising the work and making sure it stays within the overall project budget.

During the preconstruction phase of the project, McCown Gordon would be paid $22,500 to prepare the designs and make formal cost estimates.

At that point, if commissioners agree to go forward, the firm would agree to perform the work for a guaranteed maximum price, plus 6.95 percent for the firm's cost of service.

The project calls for building a new facility on property the county purchased next to the jail on S.E. 25th Street. The new facility would house under one roof all of the Public Works Department, which is now split between two facilities.

County officials have said they expect the project to cost upwards of $8 million to $11 million, to be funded with new general obligation bonds.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, commissioners will hear a report from planning and development staff about certain construction codes that need to be amended in light of the adoption of the county's new agritourism land use regulations.

Commissioners will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

TJ_in_Lawrence 1 year ago

So Douglas County will spend 10 million dollars and the project will be handled out an out of state out of county firm. There are really good building firms here in Lawrence. Hard to believe that none of them could of done this project. More tax revenue that goes out of town.