Supervisors approve $2,486 change order and $369,898.49 in April payments for county jail project; staff to seek local bids for kitchen gear

John, a county staff member overseeing the jail construction project, told the Osceola County Board of Supervisors that contractors have installed all but two doors, are priming walls and finishing concrete, and that ductwork and rough mechanical work are largely complete. He said the county is aiming for contractor completion in September and occupancy of the new jail in October, subject to fire marshal approval.

John recommended approval of a small change order to Winger Companies covering smoke-exhaust fans, three-phase breakers and starters, and associated fire-alarm modifications. "So the total change order was $2,486," he said, describing negotiated reductions from an earlier $5,000 estimate. The board moved and approved the change order by vocal assent.

John also presented the April pay application for the project, listing line items including a $5,750 construction-management fee, $9,950 on-site allowance, $1,403.13 reimbursables, and construction invoices: general construction $92,285.48; security frames $6,270; plumbing $90,744; HVAC $93,482.38; electrical $69,682.50; plus smaller items, for a monthly total of $369,898.49. He reported a negative contingency balance of about $750,574.79 and said the county would need to account for that shortfall in next year’s budgeting.

Board members questioned whether the new facility’s design would require additional staff. One member said they had been told the county might need to hire four more jailers; John said he had not seen evidence that staffing must increase and that the facility was designed to match existing staffing approaches. The board did not take personnel action during the meeting.

On equipment, John and the sheriff described a proposed kitchen buyout estimated at roughly $33,000 for items including a new freezer, three-basin sanitizing dishwasher, commercial work table, convection oven and reach-in freezer. John said the sheriff had roughly $161,000 remaining in the department budget but noted other approved purchases (for high-density storage and evidence lockers, previously estimated near $70,000) would draw against available funds. He recommended soliciting a local bid (Jess Equipment in Shelby was mentioned) and returning to the board with a procurement decision at the June meeting.

The board approved the change order and the April pay application by vocal assent. John said he will coordinate with the fire marshal (identified in the discussion as Delbert) and E-911 providers on final inspections and noted dispatch furniture lead times could be about 12 weeks.

The meeting closed the agenda item with board direction to gather local bids for kitchen equipment and to include the purchase decision on the June agenda.