By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
As planning continues for the renovation project at the Ellis County courthouse, jail and Law Enforcement Center, department heads got their opportunity to meet Tuesday with the project architect.
Andy Pitts from Treanor Architects spent Tuesday in Hays discussing ways to reduce the cost of the project and bring it in under budget. The meeting was the latest in a series of special meetings dedicated to building renovations.
Because the county has decided to move offices to another location during another location during construction, officials must decide between the former Kennedy Middle School and Hadley Center.
After weighing the pros and cons of both locations, the next step is to determine what the cost to lease each location for a year would be.
Pitts said he believes the Hadley Center is almost move-in ready, while it would take more work before county employees can move into Kennedy. Thomas More Prep-Marian also has asked to keep access to the gym and cafeteria.
Pitts estimated construction on the Law Enforcement Center could begin in August, with the courthouse following in the summer of 2015. It would take about a year to finish construction.
The initial design of the renovations was approximately $700,000 dollars over the $8.5 million budget, funded by a bond approved by voters a year ago. Pitts said Tuesday, after meeting with department heads and walking through the LEC and the courthouse, approximately $516,700 of potential savings have been identified.
Commissioner Swede Holmgren issued a challenge to department heads at Tuesday night’s special meeting to find places to cut the project by approximately $180,000 to $200,000.
“There will come a point, if we don’t get to that dollar figure, that the commission will then take this upon themselves to do the cutting,” he said.
Commissioners will hold another meeting May 6 where they hope to finalize the expenses, and Pitts said they hope to send out a notice for bids in late July.
Commissioner Barbara Wasinger was not present at the meeting, and Commissioner Dean Haselhorst left about halfway through the presentation.