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County signs off on jail construction manager contract

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By JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:49:58 am CDT

The Lancaster County Board signed onto an agreement with Lincoln-based Sampson Construction on Tuesday to manage construction of the new county jail at a cost that could come in around $2 million.

Sampson will earn $179,900 for pre-construction services and will get 3.25 percent of the total cost of the jail construction project.

The board set a limit of $65 million for the project, though management and architectural fees also must fit under that cap. In February, the board approved a $4.18 million contract with The Clark Enersen Partners for design services.

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The deal with Sampson has been stalled by the board’s indecision on how best to manage construction.

Sampson Construction was the only respondent to a request for proposals circulated last fall with a bid of $1,000,089. The firm also proposed negotiating a “construction manager-at-risk” contract, in which Sampson guarantees a project cost once design is 60 percent along. Taking on the risk would bump up Sampson’s asking price, but in the end could save the county money by avoiding cost overruns.

In the interest of fairness, the board decided in late November to recirculate the request for proposals, this time asking for a construction manager at risk. Sampson was the only firm to respond.

The board also considered hiring a project manager, who would oversee the entire process and report directly to the County Board. But with finances tight, and the expectation that manager could cost an estimated $120,000 a year, the board opted to do without. Commissioners voting in favor of the plan said they felt the construction manager at risk set up offered the necessary oversight.

 With early estimates the construction manager contract could cost as much as $4 million, the deal with Sampson is in the county’s favor, Commissioner Bernie Heier said.

Design on the new jail is expected to be completed later this year. Construction at Southwest 40th and West O streets could begin early next year.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.


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incompetence wrote on May 13, 2008 1:27 pm:
" This is a colossal example of reverse reasoning. Instead of figuring out what kind of a jail we need and then figuring out how to pay for it, the Board set a price and then asked the builder to give us the best he can. Any business manager knows this is exactly opposite of how to run a successful business.
A short time from now we'll have a jail that doesn't work because it was defective from the start. "

 Jack wrote on May 13, 2008 1:50 pm:
" Good 'ole boys strike again. What a joke. "

 Barb wrote on May 13, 2008 2:45 pm:
" My God, why do you sound so surprised...I fear none of any of the board members (city or county) have a clue how BIG business works, Oh excuse me, unless you know how to run a lawn mower. Its not their money, why should they care if it is done correctly...lets cut jobs so they can do all of the other pet projects to try and keep up with Omaha. Which will never happen!! Lincoln can't even plow the streets, or handle what traffic we have now...and they want more, so they can raise our taxes again and again and again.......... "

 How wrote on May 13, 2008 3:06 pm:
" do you give a job out when the taxpayers havent' approved the bond? What a joke. I predict the population of lancaster county will drop a lot once the boomers get to retirement age. "

 to How wrote on May 13, 2008 3:27 pm:
" as i understand it, the county board doesn't need voter approval to sell 10-year bonds. The voters are being asked to approve a 26-year bond to pay for the jail. Without the voter approval, the jail can be financed with a 10 year bond (costing the county less in interest, but requiring the county to find more money in a shorter period of time). so the county board will be building the jail regardless of today's election results. check out the ljs voter guide for more information. "

 natefrog wrote on May 13, 2008 3:27 pm:
" Perhaps if we didn't have so many non-violent drug offenders sitting in jail, just maybe we wouldn't need a new jail? "

 Optimistic wrote on May 13, 2008 3:41 pm:
" I am always so surprised to read all the negativity on the LJS online comments. It just makes me cringe to see people make 'fun' of our city and county elected officials because they were elected by all of us. If you have an issue with what they are doing - run for office. It's not as easy as it looks. "

 Bill wrote on May 13, 2008 8:11 pm:
" What a state. I moved to a state which has a law that says the government can't spend any money that requires more taxes to the citizens without a vote of approval from the taxpayers. This is for schools, gas, real estate , anything. I agree with "how". When the boomers retire the city and county will probably be stuck with big bills and smaller population to pay them. "

 KNOW ALL wrote on May 13, 2008 10:30 pm:
" #1 the bond issue has nothing to do with the building or not building of the jail, it will be build either way, its just a matter of how to pay for it. And natefrog way to stick up for the non-violent drug offenders, they make up 25% of the jail population and contitinue to reoffend and reoffend and are given numerous chances to clean up (ie:drug court and house arrest) yet they cant and dont and continue to sell and use drugs around the Lincoln children. There is only one way to prevent the building of new jails and that is for the Lincoln citizen to obey the laws..I dont think its that tough of a thing to ask the "tax-payer" to do. Follow the laws that we as american citizens imposed to keep everyone safe. Don't blame the politicians and the law abiding citizens...blame the criminals that cant keep their butts out of jail and prison! Its a simple solution to me!! "

 ALSO wrote on May 13, 2008 10:33 pm:
" The number one solution if you dont like this "state" or "city" MOVE OUT!
We don't want your negativity here anyway! Go to Texas or Colorado or Arizona or California i'm sure they arent building new jail or prisons there either. "

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