Commissioners receive final options for upgrades

COLFAX – Whitman County Commissioners received two final courthouse/jail upgrade scenarios from McKinstry Co. at their Monday, May 4, workshop.

The first scenario presented included roofing upgrades to the courthouse and plumbing and lighting upgrades to the jail.

The roofing upgrades would include repairing and replacing roof sections with water damage, installation of Tremco roof restoration system and installation of roof access ladders to improve roof accessibility and safety.

Jail plumbing upgrades include replacing all existing penal fixtures with new high-efficiency penal fixtures along with new water management system, replacing all existing public toilet fixtures with new high efficiency toilet fixtures, replacing shower stalls in men's locker rooms with new high efficiency urinals, reconfiguring existing sewage line serving penal areas with a gravity feed system fit with a Muffin Monster Sewage Grinder system and replacing penal shower doors with new shower doors and install a new grease trap.

The lighting upgrades at the jail are minimal, with replacing exiting lighting with new high-efficiency LED lighting and adding new circuits to the Sheriff's Office to fix circuit overloading issues.

Scenario one came down to a total cost of $2,098,345.

Scenario two included just the roofing upgrade to the courthouse. The total cost for this scenario is $652,560.

“Once we get your approval it doesn't mean we start right away on the project,” said Jack Knudsen, McKinstry Co. senior account executive and project director. “There are different components that would need approval before we could begin.”

A decision would need to be made by county commissioner by mid-May if the project is to start by McKinstry's anticipated start date of June 15.

Knudsen said this isn't a quick turnaround once approval is given, but there won't be any federal delays or state requirements that would hold McKinstry back from the project longer than anticipated.

County Commissioner Michael Largent said they will be operating under the deadline of May 18, when they have their next scheduled regular meeting.