By MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
for Glasgow News 1
If – and history has demonstrated that may be a very large “if” – things stay on track now, construction on a justice center for Barren County could begin by around the end of September.
All of the architectural and engineering designs have been completed and provided to Alliance Corp., the company handling construction management for the project, including the preparation of all the documents needed to advertise for bids for the actual building of the facility. Alliance expects to have those documents ready and advertisements placed ready by mid-June, said Tommy Gumm, the company’s CEO who has been working closely with the project, at Wednesday’s meeting of the local project development board. The PDB subsequently formally approved moving the work into this next phase, referred to as Phase C-CM. Phase D is construction.
The deadline for bids to be received would be four to five weeks after the advertisements are placed, he said. Provided the best bid comes in within the budget parameters, the steps leading to a bond sale for the financing of the total project would be triggered. At previous meetings, it has been stated that roughly 30 days’ notice is required before such a sale can occur, and then it takes about another month before the funds become available.
So, Gumm said, that takes them into September.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd, who chairs the board, asked that the bid information be provided to the local contractors’ association.
“This is an exciting day …,” Byrd said as the gathering of less than 15 minutes was wrapping up. “I’m excited to get this bid process going through.”
In other business Wednesday, the board members present approved a proposed change order for a fire hydrant water tap at a cost of $17,110.90. Alliance Corp. still has to do the formal paperwork for the change order, and when it’s ready, the expectation is that the executive committee can give it the final approval.
A disbursement request of $85,322.85 was approved as well.
Circuit Judge John T. Alexander was absent due to his presiding over a jury trial.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for noon June 11 and may be attended via Zoom or in person in Alexander’s courtroom on Floor 2 of the Barren County Courthouse; however, it may be cancelled if there is no business for the board to address.
