Construction bids for the planned county administration building came in nearly $400,000 lower than cost estimates and appear to be right around the $6 million budgeted amount.

A firmer figure, however, won’t be known until the bids can be reviewed further and contracts awarded in the weeks ahead.

Based on the bids, the preliminary construction cost, which didn’t include all of the lowest bids submitted due to some pricing concerns, was calculated at $5,110,237.32. The estimate prepared in April was $5,488,841.

The county has budgeted $6 million from the capital improvement fund to construct the 36,670-square-foot, two-story building on 3 acres the commission purchased last year on South Highway 47 and Mockingbird Lane. The new facility will house all non-court related county offices.

The county received 116 bids on 23 individual work packages set up to encourage bids from local contractors. 

Around 50 people attended Tuesday afternoon’s bid opening at the commission chambers inside the courthouse. With the large number of bids, it took 1 hour and 35 minutes to read all the submissions.

Afterward, all three commissioners said they were satisfied with the turnout and interest in the project.

“To a certain extent, I was shocked with the variety, but overly pleased with the amount of bids,” Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said.

Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson added: “I was impressed with the number of people both local and from the extended area who participated in the bidding process.”

Officials with Treanor Architects provided an updated overall project cost of $6,318,237.32, a figure that included a 5 percent contingency and an assortment of other expenses, including architecture and engineering fees and installation of a phone system.

Though that figure topped the budgeted amount, it was noted some of the fees already have been paid. Also, two grants totaling $227,745 to construct and outfit the emergency management agency portion of the building were not subtracted from the overall projected amount.

The county also is attempting to obtain funds through AmerenUE’s energy-efficiency program to offset even more of the project costs.

Nick Smith, of Septagon, the project manager, said the bids will be examined more in-depth to make sure they meet the bid specifications. He anticipated recommendations should be forwarded to the county commission within two weeks.

In addition, Septagon officials also will be reviewing voluntary bid alternates that were submitted by a handful of bidders that could possibly lead to additional cost reductions.

“I don’t think you could have had a better bid market,” said Wes Doerhoff of Septagon.

The decision to go with the smaller scopes of work and have companies bids on smaller packages was made after the county commission considered implementing a local bidder policy. 

The individual packages allowed companies to bid on a variety of work, such as site work, termite control, site utilities, asphalt pavement, landscaping, retaining walls, site concrete, window treatments, elevator, plumbing, fire protection, HVAC and electrical.

Companies were allowed to bid on as many packages as desired. The lone package that did not yield any bids was for overhead doors.

“I was impressed with the number of vendors who came,” Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said. “I hope this helps the economy. I think we got good, quality bids with quality bidders.”

Site work is expected to begin by the end of October. The construction process is expected to take around 16 months.

Three alternates — finishing out the health department area in the lower level, going with a metal roof panel finish and woodwork for the commission chambers — also were part of the bid package.

With the project near the $6 million budgeted amount, the commission will now need to determine whether to proceed with relocating the health department to the new building or keep the office in the courthouse for now. It’s estimated to cost $218,886 to finish office space for the health department in the new building.