By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There came a moment in Wednesday's Barton County Commission study session where all five commissioners were optimistic about cutting into the cost of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) project at the courthouse that was recently bid at $4.2 million. Then they examined two sections of pipe on the first floor, and it was back to the drawing board. County Director of Operations Matt Patzner summed up the problem.
"It's one thing if we got up there and the pipes were fine," he said. "I think there are things we could do: replace the units, update some things, replace the boiler when we need to, things like that. But if it's a piping problem and it's throughout every square foot of this building. That's the big bulk of the project. We wouldn't be doing much if we just pieced it together. We would still have the problems we have now, and the big one's just around the corner. One of those pipes bursting in there and 170-degree water coming down on everything is just a matter of time."
Last week, the county announced it had received two bids for the project. The low bid from Wichita-based Kruse Construction was $4.2 million, or approximately $1 million higher than projections. Orazem & Scalora Engineering Principal Gerit Garman said the estimates were first presented in October 2022, and the price of material goods has continued to rise.
"Talking with Kruse, of course these material prices, affected by the pandemic, are far higher than what everyone would consider reasonable prices during normal times," he said.
The commission discussed ways of decreasing the project's scope to cut costs, from not replacing ceilings or light fixtures, to leaving the existing carpet in place. Garman reminded the body why the original discussion included a complete overhaul.
"This is a once-in-a probably generation, if not longer, project in which the county is going to move out of the facility for an extended period of time," he said. "That's an opportunity to take care of those items, and it will never be easier."
Commissioners also asked about putting the complete project out for more bids, or breaking up the bids. Garman said there is no guarantee more bids would come in, or that bids would come in any lower. And keeping the bids through prime contractors is much easier in the long run with scheduling and accountability.
"Post-construction, one contractor in this scenario holds the warranty, and that's Kruse," he said. "If you have an issue, you have one phone call to make. There's no finger-pointing where things cross over. It doesn't matter what the issue is, you just call Kruse and say we're having this issue."
Garman said the building's chiller is 12 years old with a life expectancy of 20 years. The boiler is likely at the end of its life with an estimated 35 years of service, and the pumps are probably in good shape. But with the current system, the only ventilation in the building comes from opening a window, which became a major factor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the $1 million difference, nearly 80 percent involves the purchase of new pipes. That prompted the commissioners to examine the possibility of keeping existing pipes. Garman said a pipe study could take weeks and would cost approximately $5-6,000. That plan was quickly shot down as commissioners examined two sections of pipe on the first floor, and heard from maintenance staff that hundreds of patches are already in place on pipes throughout the building.
Commissioner Tricia Schlessiger still voiced concern about the cost of the project. "I also think this is probably the worst time to bid something ever," she said. "Given the fact it's over a million dollars over what the estimates indicate, we're in one of the biggest price-increase environments ever."
Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson agreed but said it still doesn't solve the problem. Previous commissions had similar issues but did not have access to the $2.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the county currently has. The commission has other concerns, including an obligation on upkeep for the 104-year-old courthouse, and time constraints on contracts and building rentals when the courthouse is closed.
"I feel like we could bid this down the road and, at some point in time, I think things might rebound, and we might be in a better position," said Commissioner Donna Zimmerman. "But I don't know if we'll see that in six months. I think you might be pushing this project a couple of years. Do you gamble on the pipes to wait long enough until everything rebounds?"
Finally came the number crunching. The county stands to receive a 30-percent tax rebate on the project. With the ARPA money and other general-use funds, the county has approximately $8.5 million at its disposal. Using the ARPA money, the county will ultimately have to pay approximately $1 million out of pocket for the entire project, including the move to and from the building, property rentals, and a new roof.
"I feel like there's probably never been a worse time to be bidding this project," Zimmerman said, "but from a finance standpoint, and the money that's available, I feel there's not a better time in terms of we have ARPA money, we have tax credits."
Wednesday's conversation was merely a study session on the topic. The commission will vote on how to proceed at a later date.