Posted: 8/22/06
County hires firm to represent interests in CJC project
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The Houston County Board has hired Johnson Controls, Inc., to act as owner representative on the new criminal justice center project.
Dave Prachar, who was hired by the county as a jail consultant, spoke to the board on August 15 in support of the plan.
ìYouíre talking about management of information and authority,î he told commissioners.
The ownersí representative will work with the architect, construction manager, jail consultant and engineers. Some of the duties include negotiating contracts, maintaining a master schedule, preparing and reviewing bids, assisting in the selection of bond counsel, coordinate schedules, and advise the county on issues related to the project.
Prachar, who will now report to the ownersí representative instead of the county board, said that with the different professionals working on the project, county board members would not likely have the time to negotiate contracts.
ìWithout an owners rep, itís a huge time commitment,î said Prachar.
Johnson Controls was represented by Aaron Rittenhouse, Mike Pieper and Arif Quraishi.
Rittenhouse told the board that the owners rep will provide ìbudget certaintyî and would not increase the cost of the project.
ìYou are taking risk out of the equation,î he said.
County board chairman Kevin Kelleher commented that ìWhen everyone goes home, thatís when the guarantees come into play.î
One of the things the firm will do in its new role in the project is research possibilities and make recommendations for energy-efficiency.
ìThere is an abundance of renewable energy in the county,î said Rittenhouse, mentioning saw dust and corn as two examples. ìOver time, it will make senseî to invest in renewable energy.
Commissioner Tom Bjerke questioned the need for a construction manager and a owners representative.
Quraishi answered that the construction manager is necessary to directly oversee the actual construction of the project. He added that the public may have the opportunity to follow the progress of the CJC via the web.
ìCommunication is a big key,î he said.
Cost breakdown
For its services, Johnson Controls will be paid $6,000 per month from August, 2006, through November, 2006, and $15,000 per month from December 2006 through March of 2007. The total for services in the pre-construction and procurement phase is $84,000.
Hourly rates for additional services are $120/hour for project manager; $100 per hour for technical support and $50 per hour for administrative support.
The motion to hire Johnson Controls passed unanimously.
Johnson Controls is also part of the project as a partner in developing a Community-Based Energy Plan, which includes making an application for Clean and Renewable Energy Bonds to finance a portion of the project.
Under the agreement, Johnson Controls will provide an energy plan to the county with a 15-year payback. If it is unable to do so, the county will not have to pay. If the firm develops a plan with a 15 year payback or less and the county does not implement the plan, it will reimburse Johnson Controls up to $100,000.
If the plan is accepted by the county, it will hire Johnson Controls to carry out the plan.
Other business
In other news from the county board, the commissioners agreed to hire Jessica Rommes as a social worker at step I, and will hire students from the office to work program to help out in human services and the E-911 office.
The board will begin reviewing budgets on August 29.
There is no county board meeting on September 12.
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
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