Commissioners give nod to proceed with geological survey

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to move forward with preliminary work for the new jail construction.

Meeting Thursday to discuss the status of the project were First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah; Kevin Rost, associate senior project manager with Goldberg Group Architects of St. Joseph, Mo.; Gary Walker, project manager with Universal Construction of Lenexa; Public Works Director Jim Harris, Sheriff Bill Martin, Jail Administrator Bobby Reed and Director of Security Alvin Metcalf.

During the meeting, Rost reported the phase II portion of the environmental survey will begin soon. The survey, which will test for ground contaminants, is one of the contingencies of an agreement to purchase 6 acres at 323 E. 20th Street from Cullor, Inc., to construct the new Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center.

According to the timeline, after the survey is completed, a geological survey will be required to help determine the type of foundation to be used for the building. The cost of this study has been estimated at $5,000.

On Thursday, Reed had expressed a concern that it could be April or May before all the surveys are completed, which means actual groundbreaking won't take place until mid-July. He and other jail officials asked if the geological survey could be ordered prior to obtaining the results of the environmental survey.

On Tuesday, Oharah posed the question to Commission Chairman Barbara Albright, Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman and County Counselor Justin Meeks.

Oharah also asked if they wanted to give the construction manager at-risk the green light to proceed with ordering the metal shell for the building, which will be pre-engineered.

Meeks did not recommend proceeding with any action towards purchasing the building materials until the geological survey report is completed. If the survey has a negative result, the county would be looking for another site for the project.

As for ordering the geological survey, Meeks said "It's a $5,000 gamble." On the other hand, having the survey done earlier might mean the county would avoid any increase in material costs.

Although commissioners did not vote to proceed, they all verbally agreed.

In April, voters approved a .4 percent retail sales tax increase to pay for bonds to finance a $6.8 million new jail.

Larry Goldberg, GGA president, has warned commissioners construction costs have increased since the election, but on Thursday, Rost said early estimates are showing the construction costs -- minus the architect fees and land acquisition payment -- will likely be less than the $6.8.

Rost said the county could use excess revenue from the .4 percent sales tax collected.