Cass County details $12.4 million annex remodel timeline; proposes furniture-review amendment

County staff told the Cass County Building Committee that design work for a major annex remodel is moving forward and that the project is now estimated at roughly $12,400,000.

"Right now, we are at an estimated budget of about $12,400,000," Robert said, adding the estimate does not include furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). He said the current budget model includes a 10% construction contingency and a 5% design/pricing contingency.

Why it matters: The remodel will reconfigure four floors to consolidate administrative offices, the state’s attorney’s office, IT, juvenile court and human services. If approved, the county plans to move from schematic design through construction documents and then to bidding this spring and early summer.

Schedule and procurement: Robert outlined the near-term schedule: a compressed design-development phase through March 9, transition to construction documents March 16–May 4, tentative bidding between May 11 and June 8 and a potential construction start around June 15, subject to bid results and final approvals.

Furniture and contract amendment: Robert said the design team's current contract does not include a review of existing annex furniture. "There is a scope of the JLG work that is not currently included in their agreement that I do believe we want to add. And that is a review of furniture that is in the annex building right now," he said. He recommended a contract amendment so the design team can identify what furniture can be reused and what must be replaced to avoid last-minute procurement and project delays.

Budget context and contingencies: Commissioners and staff discussed how building fund projections and several contingencies factor into affordability. Staff emphasized the estimate is preliminary and that final costs could change as construction documents and pricing are refined.

Courtroom and juvenile-court needs: The remodel is driven in part by courtroom and juvenile-court space needs; staff said more detailed cost estimates for temporary and long-term juvenile-court moves could be packaged for potential grant applications.

What’s next: Staff said it will continue design work with the contracted firm and return with more detailed documents and a recommendation before the county solicits and accepts bids. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting.