Reno County approves architect agreement to proceed with courthouse renovation design work
May 09, 2026 | Reno County, Kansas
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Reno County commissioners voted May 10 to authorize design work with the proposed architect team for a multi-part courthouse renovation that includes expanded commission meeting space and additional District Attorney offices.
The architect introduced conceptual designs and told commissioners the proposal affects nearly every courthouse department. Presenters estimated an initial project cost in a $1.1M to $1.6M range for design and furnishings and cautioned construction costs could be higher; commissioners warned it might reach roughly $2.5M once built. The board asked for bid packaging that separates priority items (DA 5th-floor work) so bids can be phased and nonessential assembly finishes can be omitted if costs escalate.
Commissioners discussed timeline: packaging and bid readiness could take up to eight months depending on programming and approvals. The architect noted the courthouse is on state and federal historic registers; qualifying renovation costs could later generate historic tax credits (the architect cited an approximate 40% credit on eligible costs, typically sold at 80–90% of value after completion).
Concerns included the proposed assembly space for commissioners (commissioners noted a five-member commission but a design that had three panels and audience capacity questions), the cost of movable panels and FF&E, and the need to ensure the space is used often enough to justify expense. Staff and the architect said the project is compartmentalizable so the DA work could be expedited and proceeded with separately.
A motion to approve the design agreement with GLMB passed by roll call (Commissioner Sellers: yes; Commissioner Hurst: yes; Ben Friesen: yes). Commissioners requested monthly updates and directed staff to provide phased pricing and priority lists for bid packaging.
Next steps: GLMB will proceed with programming and schematic designs; staff will return with priority lists and cost breakouts to inform bidding and phasing decisions.
The architect introduced conceptual designs and told commissioners the proposal affects nearly every courthouse department. Presenters estimated an initial project cost in a $1.1M to $1.6M range for design and furnishings and cautioned construction costs could be higher; commissioners warned it might reach roughly $2.5M once built. The board asked for bid packaging that separates priority items (DA 5th-floor work) so bids can be phased and nonessential assembly finishes can be omitted if costs escalate.
Commissioners discussed timeline: packaging and bid readiness could take up to eight months depending on programming and approvals. The architect noted the courthouse is on state and federal historic registers; qualifying renovation costs could later generate historic tax credits (the architect cited an approximate 40% credit on eligible costs, typically sold at 80–90% of value after completion).
Concerns included the proposed assembly space for commissioners (commissioners noted a five-member commission but a design that had three panels and audience capacity questions), the cost of movable panels and FF&E, and the need to ensure the space is used often enough to justify expense. Staff and the architect said the project is compartmentalizable so the DA work could be expedited and proceeded with separately.
A motion to approve the design agreement with GLMB passed by roll call (Commissioner Sellers: yes; Commissioner Hurst: yes; Ben Friesen: yes). Commissioners requested monthly updates and directed staff to provide phased pricing and priority lists for bid packaging.
Next steps: GLMB will proceed with programming and schematic designs; staff will return with priority lists and cost breakouts to inform bidding and phasing decisions.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
