Firm vies for safety center design

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The architectural company that wants to design Red Willow County's and McCook's proposed public safety center drew the blueprints for the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp in McCook.

Albert Povondra of Carlson West Povondra Architects, Omaha, told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning that his firm would work with W Design of McCook, which was also involved, with CWP, in the WEC design and construction in 2000 and 2001.

Povondra said the two companies have "a good synergy," are a good fit and have already worked together successfully. It would be a definite benefit to have a local partner on the job site daily, Povondra said.

CWP brought the WEC in within schedule and under budget, Povondra said. "We have a good track record for being within budget and on schedule."

The company is working on a $12.9 million jail project in Saunders County, Povondra said, and has worked on jail facilities in Lancaster, Sarpy and Dawson counties.

Povondra said it is the company's experience with jail projects in Nebraska that sets them above their competitors. It is also the company's commitment, he said, to develop an energy-efficient, low-maintenance facility. "We promise a 'no frills' jail," he said. "We're not asking tax payers to fund a palace for prisoners." It will be a humane jail, he said, not a luxury facility.

It would be a cost-effective facility with a staff-efficient design. "It is important that staff costs are as modest as can be," Povondra said.

Povondra said he, not a second-in-command with the company, would draw the designs for the proposed facility. One of the major challenges of this and other recent projects, he said, is cost containment because of volatile construction costs. A particular challenge would be projecting costs into April, when bids probably would be let, he said.

Povondra said that CWP would work with the county's and city's jail committee members and the bonding agent approved by both entities to prepare information for the public before the election.

It is vital to have the potential site locked in before public meetings begin, probably in September, Povondra said, so that he can develop concept plans and a site plan specific to the location.

The concept plan would be developed before the election, which if successful, would be followed by more detailed blueprints. Povondra promised that "what they (the tax payers) approve is what they get."

Although the county is discussing the possible purchase of the former West Ward Elementary site, Greg Wolford, of W Design, told commissions, "We will work with the site you pick."

Commissioner Leigh Hoyt told Povondra and Wolford that it is important that the architects the county hires be totally committed to the project, and believe that the project is worthwhile to McCook.

Wolford said he sees McCook as the regional center of Southwest Nebraska, and although he does not want to hurt Hitchcock County -- where Red Willow County houses a large number of its prisoners now -- he has "no love lost" for jails in counties further away.

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt agreed with Wolford's regional concept. "It's (the jail is) my way of looking into the future," McNutt said, and maintaining and/or enhancing Red Willow County as a regional hub.

Charges and fees to be paid the architectural firm -- pre-election work (approximately $7,500 plus reimbursables such as mileage) and a set percentage of new construction costs and renovation costs if the existing West Ward building is utilized -- will be spelled out in a contract to be delivered to commissioners on or about June 28. Pre-election charges are credited 100 percent to the construction fee if the bond election is successful, Povondra said.

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