|
|
 |
Jail
project completed
New beds ready for occupancy, no reservations needed
Wayne White
Managing Editor
A project that added a work release holding cell and six beds to
the Osage County Jail is now officially completed.
Jay Zimmerschied, of Treanor Architects, reported to the Osage County
Commission that the only remaining work to be done on the $129,129
project is replacing a door handle.
“That item is not precluding them from using the jail,”
Zimmerschied said.
The original contracted completion date was to be May 29, but a
change order added a 52-day extension to allow the contractor to
obtain a toilet fixture suitable for the security facility.
That change extended the completion date to July 20. Zimmerschied
said jail records show the cell in question was occupied on July
24.
He explained that according to the contract, the county could claim
liquidated damages in the amount of $100 per day of the project
overrun. But, he said, the contract was based upon the date of “substantial
completion” which could be disputed by the contractor if the
county chose to seek damages.
“They were able to use that [cell] for its intended purposes,”
he said.
Another consideration, Zimmerschied said, was that the county had
not signed the change order approving the time extension. The change
benefited the county by reducing the project cost by over $1,000,
and it was a necessary change, he explained.
Collecting the liquidated damages could be more costly than $400,
he said.
“You’ve got to have guidelines, though,” said
Osage County Commissioner Carl Meyer. With the contractor not meeting
the deadline, he said, “It was basically denying us income
from the jail.”
Requesting advice from county counselor Delton Gilliland, the commission
was told, “I don’t even know if you’ve been damaged.”
Zimmerschied said the contractor could request proof of damages.
“You’re not talking about that much money,” Gilliland
said.
Osage County Commissioner Larry Woodson argued that every dollar
should be considered, but commissioners agreed they would not want
to pay legal fees to try to collect for the possible damages.
On a motion from Woodson, commissioners decided not to pursue damages,
and accepted the previously unsigned change order. In addition to
the jail cells, the project also included minor renovations in the
courthouse.
In other discussion, Zimmerschied also told the commission that
his company had reviewed plans provided by the city of Lyndon outlining
proposed repairs to a sewer line that runs under the courthouse.
His company determined that relining the sewer line “seems
like an appropriate solution. This is an appropriate approach for
this problem.”
With commissioners requesting Zimmerschied to sign off on the plans,
Gilliland noted the company was not being paid a fee for reviewing
the plans, and it was the commission’s decision on how to
proceed.
“I think I would convey to the city that the county would
accept … a sleeve in the pipe properly installed – the
county will accept that solution,” Gilliland said.
At a previous meeting, commissioners discussed the plan with Lyndon
City Administrator Larry Thurston, who indicated the city was considering
two options for the sewer line that serves most of the north side
of Lyndon. One option was to repair the line and leave it in place;
a second option was truncate the line upstream from the courthouse
and reroute the flow to a nearby line, leaving the line as a service
line from the courthouse. Lyndon has hired an engineering consultant
to determine whether rerouting is an option.
Still to be considered is whether the county will participate in
paying for the repair. It was noted that since the line is still
a city sewer main, the city remains responsible for the repair.
“I think the cost part of it is undetermined,” Gilliland
said. “The amount and who’s going to pay is unknown.”
In other business, the commission:
• heard from Zimmerschied that Treanor had reviewed safety
violations at the courthouse cited by the state fire marshal. A
proposal is being prepared to define a project based on the fire
marshal’s concerns. Zimmerschied recommended that the county
develop a preservation plan, or a document outlining the historical
features of the courthouse. The document could be used for all future
projects at the courthouse. Zimmerschied was reluctant to discuss
the cost of developing the preservation document, but agreed to
attend a future meeting with a cost estimate.
• approved a donation to Grace Community Church in the amount
of $150 for use of the church for the Northeast Kansas Officials
Conference that the county is hosting Oct. 10.
• approved paying $27,330.89 to Kansas State Bank, for a payment
on the Osage County Sheriff’s Office building.
• approved employment of Nancy Durbin as part-time personnel
for Osage County Economic Development. Durbin is to work less than
20 hours per week.
• presented a certificate of appreciation to county appraiser
Marg Archer, who recently resigned after nine years of service to
Osage County.
• heard from road and bridge supervisor Glen Tyson that bids
have been reviewed for replacing Mineral Springs Bridge on old U.S.
75, or Topeka Boulevard, about two miles north of Carbondale. Midwest
Construction, Inc., of Holton, submitted the low bid of $510,403.97.
The Kansas Department of Transportation is administering the project
with the county responsible for 20 percent of the cost. Construction
is expected to begin early next year.
• learned from Tyson the county had received a grant of $6,500
through the Lake Region Authority for recycling purposes. Osage
County plans to purchase storage pods to be used for electronic
waste collection.
• approved an inter-local agreement with Rural Water District
#6 for the purpose of obtaining government funds for a water system
improvement project. The $987,690 cost of the project will be funded
by the water district, a community development block grant, and
a USDA loan and grant. |
|
|
|
