Posted: 10/3/06
CJC plans
moving
forward
Conceptual drawings and a preliminary budget for the proposed criminal justice center should be done in December.
That was part of the report that Arif Quraishi gave Houston County commissioners on September 25.
Quraishi is director of design and construction services for Johnson Controls, which is the owner representative for the project.
He said contracts with the architects and construction manager will be finalized in October. Quraishi met with them 4-6 weeks ago and set up a responsibility matrix that runs from pre-construction to close out.
At least six months will be required to lay out the design of the project, Quraishi said. In a best-case scenario, ground could be broken in the fall of 2007, he added. ìWeíre already behind the eight ball at this time,î he said.
Quraishi also recommended setting up a facility construction committee to oversee the budget and keep track of the project.
He recommended having Northland Securities be the bonding company because the county has worked with them in the past, but said bids would be let to other major bonding companies also.
There will be 23-30 construction bids, Quraishi said, and local contractors will be able to bid on parts of the project such as plumbing and masonry. ìItís going to give more people a chance to bid on the project, ì he said.
Quraishi also gave an update on Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs). He said the IRS has requested some missing information, and has extended the application deadline to October 13. Commissioners approved applying for about $6 million in CREBs at their April 18 meeting. Interest expense on electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and technology parts of the project would be exempt if it is approved.
Board chairman Kevin Kelleher said that a contract had been signed with Johnson Controls as owner representative.
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