Thursday, April 25, 2024
While keeping construction costs for the future Leon Street Annex appears to be a priority for the Coryell County judge and each member of the commissioners court, a discussion about the topic during the May 9 commissioners court meeting revealed some differences in approach.
County Judge Roger Miller said he placed an item on the agenda regarding options for cutting costs to reduce the budget of the proposed Leon Street Annex and giving guidance to Southwest Architects to include that in their plans.
"We need to implement cost cutting measures and look at reducing the size and scope of the generator (for the building)," Miller said. He added that is a result of an $870,000 cost overrun on jail expansion costs.
During a meeting in April, commissioners Scott Weddle and Kyle Matthews had said it is too early to begin cost cutting measures on the Leon Street Annex because a guaranteed maximum price for the building has not been revealed.
"I thought a majority of the court decided we were premature in this — where do you get the $870,000?" Weddle asked.
"That $870,000 is the difference in the (initial) estimate of what the jail expansion would cost versus what came in," Miller said.
"I guess we're going to look at it differently," Weddle said. "I want to make sure we have enough to cover the expense. If we put a server over there (for electronics), we'll need the (larger) generator."
Weddle added that a suggestion to consider "removing benches in the courtroom and replacing them with folding chairs ... My thought is it doesn't have the decorum of a facility we'll have for at least 30 years, and the way Coryell County does things, it might be 80 years."
Miller said reducing the size of the interior is another item to consider.
"One thing that glaringly sticks out is to reduce the square footage — to find a way to cut square footage. I know that gets into some pretty extensive redrawing of plans," he said.
Matthews said he wants to avoid making cuts too early in the process.
"I want everybody to be patient," he said. "There's nothing wrong with telling an architect to be gentle. It is a professional building, and it does need a roof, floor and doors."
Weddle said a certain amount of space is needed for a courtroom.
"Being a court, it does have a square footage requirement," Weddle said. "I am an eternal optimist — I look at what we can do and not what we can't do. I love being challenged. I did some number crunching and have some figures to present to the court."
Sheriff Scott Williams said having benches will enhance the security of the building.
"As far as courtroom security, it's a whole lot harder to throw a bench than a folding chair," he said.
Weddle said he is assuming that the guaranteed maximum price will hold closely to the number that was presented in January.
He said the estimated cost for construction of both the Leon Street Annex and expansion of the jail is $13,689,364 without options, and with options, the county is looking at a $320,248 shortfall.
"One of the things we have to keep in mind before we talk about redrawing and going back to the drawing board is that both the architect and the construction manager at risk have contingencies," Weddle said. "Anything over that number they pay for and anything under we get back. Naturally they're going to have a high number (for contingencies).
"The total of contingencies on the entire project is $785,677. That's potential money that can come back to the county, and also potential money to add an extra step or something. Regarding this $800,000 (which Miller referred to), it's almost already in there. Being the eternal optimist, we're looking pretty good with $785,000 in uh-ohs."
Weddle said the contract with Johnson County to house inmates from Coryell County in its jail would have reduced costs when the 47-bed jail expansion is complete. The projected date for that is February 2024.
"We can't lose sight of the goal and we're looking at February 28, 2024," he said. "I'm going to continue to look at it and tweak it. In my opinion we're in pretty good shape. I'm not happy they came in higher (on costs) for the jail. But on the contingencies, I'm fully expecting to get some money back."
Miller said the projected obligation and hard number for the cost of jail expansion and the Leon Street Annex is closer to $14,340,213.
"If you look at that, the deficit becomes $735,000," he said. "I think that's the number we've got to look at. I'm not trying to put the cart in front of the horse. Right now, we're over on one cost projection. Right now, they're 0 for 1.
"We may have to budget for FY (fiscal year) 2024 before we get the bid packets in."
Weddle said he thought the packets would be received sooner.
"No, I think they'll have everything in before budget season," Weddle said. "I do not think we need to look at reducing the (building) footprint. We can look at fixtures and such. I would ask that we wait until we get closer to the GMP (guaranteed maximum price and see if they come in at what you say.
"I can put in additional numbers — two different sets of books — I’m making a joke, but the optimists and the pessimists."
"I hope I'm not coming across as a pessimist," Miller said. "I don't know how we can afford another 15% deviation. I think we'll be challenged at this point even with a number of $735,000. There's some things in the contingencies that would have to go our way."
Weddle said the cost savings from housing fewer inmates out of county will make a difference once the jail expansion is complete.
"It's a tremendous amount of money going out of this county that we'll be able to bring back," he said.
