Yellow Medicine County awards bids for justice center

GRANITE FALLS - Bids to build a new justice center to replace the Yellow Medicine County Courthouse came in about 10 percent over budget.
The Yellow Medicine County Board of Commissioners reviewed bids Tuesday and awarded the bids in the main categories of earthwork/utilities, concrete, precast concrete, masonry, steel supply, and a combined bid for electrical, communications and electronic safety/security, according to Peggy Heglund, county administrator.
She reported that the total for the bids for construction costs exceeded the estimate of $4,769,308 by approximately 10 percent.
The remaining categories will continue to be reviewed by county staff and project architect Joel Dunning, Wold Architects, of St. Paul, and construction manager Earl Fuechtmann, Contegrity Group Inc., of Little Falls.
They will look for any possible cost savings. Board members intend to award the remaining bids at their May 26 meeting.
Board members also authorized Ehlers and Associates, financial advisers, to proceed with bond sales in the amount of $5,955,000.
The project calls for building the new facility on the courthouse campus and demolishing the existing courthouse once the new building is ready for occupancy. The original courthouse was constructed in 1889 and expanded in the 1970s.
The 2002 building housing the jail and other offices will remain.
The new building’s second floor will house the court services area, holding two courtrooms, offices for court administrative staff, a jury room and secured area for holding inmates.
The building’s first floor will have offices for the Sheriff’s Office, county attorney, probation and information technology services and the Granite Falls Police Department.