Mount Clemens commission interviews four teams for City Hall–Fire Station design; commissioners to email preferences by Friday

The Mount Clemens City Commission spent its meeting interviewing four architect/engineering teams competing to design and deliver a combined City Hall and Fire Station project, with the commission outlining a fast timetable for a decision.

The commission heard structured 30‑minute interviews from Whiteman; the Detroit Architectural Group team (working with BKB Group and Matrix Consulting Engineers); Auger Klein Auger (AKA); and Partners in Architecture. Each team presented its approach to programming, design phases, public engagement, fee structure and risk mitigation for renovating and adding to the existing building.

Commissioners asked substantive questions about schedule, cost control and unknowns on a renovation project. Speakers repeatedly emphasized early field verification: soil borings, selective demolition and geotechnical work to reduce the chance of costly change orders. Several teams recommended bringing a construction manager to the project at design development to keep bids and schedules aligned with the budget.

The commission directed commissioners to email grant/operations staffer Greg with their preferred firm by the end of the day Friday so the city can amend and repost the agenda if a nomination is clear. Chair (Speaker 1) cautioned that emails must be one‑to‑staff (not a group reply) to remain within open‑meetings rules, and that if no consensus emerges the commission will continue discussion at its Tuesday meeting and may vote then.

No formal award or selection occurred at the interviews; the commission adjourned after the last presentation, with a procedural motion carried at the meeting’s close.