Commission authorizes selection of construction manager for health-department renovation; price to be set after design

The Reno County Commission authorized staff to proceed with the panel-recommended construction manager for a planned health-department renovation, enabling the design phase to advance.

Staff explained the project is a construction-manager-at-risk delivery; a selection panel had unanimously recommended ICON (with offices in Wichita and Manhattan) to work with the architect and staff. Commissioners were told that authorizing the construction manager enables design and cost-estimating work, but a maximum price will be presented later for commission approval before any construction contract is executed.

Commissioners pressed staff about fiscal implications given past budget shortfalls. County staff said the work would be funded from a capital outlay reserve tied to the health department fund (a mix of fees, grants and some property-tax revenue), and that the county must spend those earmarked funds on public-health capital outlay or return them to the health fund.

The commission approved the related consent-agenda balance (with an item removed and tabled) by roll call. Staff will return with a guaranteed maximum price and contract terms for final approval before any construction begins or invoices are paid from the reserve fund.

Next step: staff to complete design with the construction manager and architect, determine a guaranteed maximum price, and present contract documents for commission approval.