Weatherford sets $18,994,584 guaranteed maximum price for new Public Safety Building

The Weatherford City Council voted 5–0 to approve an amendment establishing a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) not to exceed $18,994,584 for construction of the city's new Public Safety Building.

Chief Lance Arnold, director of public safety, presented the project's history and design: a multi-decade facilities needs assessment identified a need for a larger police facility; BRW (Brown Reynolds Watford Architects) conducted updated programming and schematic design; and the current plan responds to population growth and added public-safety functions. Arnold summarized benefits and features of the project, noting it will consolidate police divisions, fire administration and emergency management functions; include a hardened storm shelter capable of withstanding severe wind events; provide expanded space for investigations and a larger communications center with windows to the outside for telecommunicators; and add support facilities and parking.

Arnold described the procurement history: a two-step request for proposals for a construction manager at risk (CMAR) produced a selection and earlier council approval of the CMAR agreement; the amendment before council set the GMP cap. "We have space to grow as our community grows," Arnold said, highlighting design choices made to improve staff wellness, workflow and public interaction.

Council members spoke in support of the project, noting the facility addresses long-standing needs identified in earlier assessments and will aid recruitment and operations. A motion by Jeff Robinson (second by Mayor Pro Tem) to approve the amendment passed 5–0.

The agenda materials show the approved GMP not to exceed $18,994,584; staff said follow-up steps include finalizing contract documents and overseeing construction administration.