County hunt for jail construction manager back at square one

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By JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

An effort to play fair in selecting a construction manager for a Lancaster County jail project has landed officials in a familiar place.

Last fall, the county requested proposals from firms interested in managing the construction but received only one submission. Sampson Construction said it could do the job for about $1 million.

The firm proposed signing a contract as a “construction manager at risk,” under which the firm would guarantee the project would come in under an agreed-upon cost once the project’s design was 60 percent along. The  contract would have increased Sampson’s fee, but would have protected the county from cost overruns.

The idea enticed commissioners and negotiations began. However, in late November, commissioners halted the process, voicing uncertainties about whether they were essentially hiring Sampson to do a different job than was initially advertised. The board agreed to re-advertise, this time asking for a construction manager at risk.

County Purchasing Agent Vince Mejer cautioned the second go could yield no additional proposals, or worse, none.

As of Wednesday’s deadline, Sampson was the only firm to bid on the job.

Because the fee is negotiable and not a fixed amount, Mejer said a dollar amount on the new proposal is not available.

The extra step likely cost the county about $1,000 in advertising costs, as well as time and some frustration, but in the end likely not much more than that, Mejer said.

Sampson, as well, lost money and time, he said.

Sampson representatives  were unavailable for comment Thursday.

With little discussion, commissioners gave Mejer clearance to begin negotiating the contract.

Also Thursday, the board  agreed to have a county employee serve as project manager for the new jail.

Bob Jarrett, a construction and maintenance manager within the Corrections Department, will serve as the County Board’s eyes and ears for the project and oversee Sampson’s work.

Commissioners are making plans to visit the Polk County, Iowa, jail to see how officials there have managed to build a 1,500-bed jail for $68 million. That project is due for completion later this year.

Consultants have estimated Lancaster County’s 776-bed jail plan could cost $94 million.

While commissioners say they aren’t ready to commit to that cost, one commissioner questioned whether they even need 776 beds.

Pointing to the push to put more offenders on house arrest and a corresponding drop in population at the downtown jail and a minimum-security site in Air Park, Commissioner Ray Stevens suggested the board needs to better evaluate what size jail is really needed.

“Perhaps we’re a little premature on some of these contracts,” he said.

As of Thursday afternoon, 56 people were hooked up to electronic monitors with another 53 waiting.

As of Thursday morning, the jail at 10th and J streets held 223. The Air Park site housed another 125. Another 56 were held in Butler, Platte and York counties.

The corrections system has a capacity of 373. Populations in recent months have gone well over 500.

Corrections Director Mike Thurber cautioned that the jail population traditionally dips around this time of year, but agreed the alternatives are working.

Consultants based the 776-bed concept on population projections 20 years into the future, he cautioned.

Board Chairman Bob Workman echoed sentiments from Commissioner Bernie Heier that he can’t support $94 million worth of new jail. But perhaps, he said,  they need to treat seriously consultants’ size estimates.

“I think we have to honor some of what these people are telling us,” he said.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.