Final scope approved for courthouse project

By Anna Jauhola
In a special meeting on Wednesday, April 23, the Kittson County Commissioners approved the scope of electrical work to be done for the courthouse renovation project.
This scope is the last portion of the project they needed to confirm and approve before fully considering the bids. The commissioners considered the add alternate option to replace six sub panels in the courthouse hallways, and ultimately decided it is unnecessary.
“From the contractors’ points of view and from Johnson Control’s point of view, they aren’t ready for replacement quite yet,” said Travis Pawlowski, project manager for Johnson Controls. “And there is quite a price difference in pricing from Contractor A and B, if you went to each contractor with this.”
County Administrator Aimee Sugden noted if the commission were to forego updating the panels, the contractors’ bids are exactly the same for the rest of the electrical work.
Commissioner Ryan Swenson motioned to not go with the add alternate to replace the panels, with Commissioner Brad Johnson seconding and the board voting in favor.
The board also considered a deduct option from the base-bid of the project. The bid includes replacing the mass distribution panel (MDP) and Electrical Panel A, along with changing the service entrance.
“We’ve included this in the base bid because we feel it should be done,” Pawlowski said. “My main concern probably isn’t so much the panel itself but the service entrance – how it comes into the building is not to code. But we figured if we’re going to redo the service entrance to that, then we would replace that panel.”
To remove this portion of the project would save $35,750.
Commissioner Derry Jones asked if it is tied to anything else in the project or if it can be replaced a year or more later. Pawlowski said the MDP is original to the building and the machine will be 50 weeks out on order.
“So really, it won’t get done with this project anyway, because the parts won’t be here,” Jones said, asking whether they could instead budget for this item later on.
Ultimately, Commission-er Theresia Gillie motioned to keep this portion in the project, with Swenson seconding and all voting in favor.
The board discussed sending a letter to the state requesting to not have occupancy sensors in every room. Jones motioned and Johnson seconded to send the letter on county letterhead with help from Johnson Controls.
The commission agreed they would like to keep regular light switches in offices to ensure customers know when an office is open. However, having occupancy sensors in bathrooms and meeting rooms would be helpful.
Finally, the board approved going with Contractor B for the electrical scope of the project, which is a group of local contractors. Swenson motioned and Gillie seconded, with all voting in favor.
“After the project is done, and if there’s an issue, if you can’t get one of them, you can get the other to work on it,” Jones said.
“I feel very confident in their workforce that they can do this project,” Pawlowski said.
The next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 6 at 9 a.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the courthouse.