Somerset — The Pulaski County Develop-ment Board failed in a meeting last week to accept one of the demolition bids involved in the new judicial center project.
Instead, after neatly 45 minutes of discussion, the board opted to extend negotiations and then re-bid the project if costs still needed to be lowered.
Only two contractors bid on the project — with the lowest still 32 percent higher than what was budgeted.
The two bids included Wilson and Roy at $796,400 and Weddle Enterprises at $496,212.
Board member Sarah Boswell Dent from the Administrative Office of the Courts, said she believed over-budget cost came because of the delays over site selection. The county was approved for the money by the Kentucky legislature in 2005. Now, three years later, ground has yet to be broken.
“We don’t have any choice but to reject the bids and change the scope,” said Dent, “and see if we can get any closer.
“I’m concerned about future phrases (of the project),” added Dent.
“ ... the longer it takes us to build this the more off balance we get,” she added.
Meanwhile, Shane Weddle with Weddle Enterprises asked the board how they came up with a budget amount.
Dent explained there are estimates made for each step of the process as the process moves along, depending whatever is needed and land acquisition cost.
“My big concern is time is money in this business,” said Dent. “We can’t go back to the legislature and ask for more money.”
“I’d be very surprised if you could get within the budget,” said Weddle.
While at first Dent, believed they would have to immediately rebid the project, upon speaking with Garland Vanhook, general manager of facilities for the Administrative Office of the Courts, the board found that they could negotiate with the contractors before rebidding the project.
Currently, representatives of the board are working with the two contractors to see if they can come closer to budget before rebidding. However, if that doesn’t happen by the end of Monday, the board will begin the rebid process.
The judicial complex will be located in the area of Market Street and South Maple Street area, in downtown Somerset. The plan took properties that were along the downtown fountain square and south Maple Streets, along with Market Street.
Properties which were purchased for the judicial center include the former storefronts of The Pink Bee, Kasandra’s Pie Barn God’s Food Pantry and Brandywine Studios, Ron Wilson’s office, the Smith Staples building, Coldiron offices, the Salutsky building, David Rogers Photography, The Mills building, Southern Office Supply, Bowan building and the First and Farmers Bank drive-thru.
The Pulaski County Judicial Center project was one for the 18 judicial center projects authorized by the 2005 General Assembly and funded by the 2006 General Assembly. The original project plan was for a 77,000-square-foot judicial center with an estimated total project cost of $22.4 million.
Members of the Judicial Planning and Development Board include Bullock, chair; circuit clerk George Flynn, vice chair; magistrate Mike Wilson; circuit judge Jeffrey Burdette; attorney John Prather Jr.; and Sarah Boswell Dent, representing the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
The purpose of the board is to ensure that county and court officials have input on all aspects of the project.
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