(KNSI) – Bids are encouraging for the new Benton County Government Center, coming in well below what was initially estimated.
The county had the option of trying to renovate and expand its current facilities or build something brand new on vacant land it owns along Dewey Street. Putting up something modern ended up being about equal in cost to remodeling, as the 1901 courthouse posed challenges to bring to current standards. Thick concrete and granite walls would need to be altered to make it handicap accessible, and the brick exterior is decaying.
The board of commissioners elected to go with a facility that includes a community room for large groups, what they describe as a visitor-friendly design where everything is easy to find, a drive-through option for the Department of Motor Vehicles, and a single entrance that can be better secured.
Contegrity Group is the construction manager for the project. They expected bids to wind up around $29.7 million. The lowest offer was almost $5 million less than predicted. The second-lowest bid was barely over $26 million, and the average bid was $27.6 million, better than $2 million below what had been projected.
Contegrity added that they have reviewed 127 bids for the work, among the five best responses they have received for any job they’ve overseen in Minnesota. The county is looking at four different potential financing plans for the work. The most expensive would now set back the owner of a median-priced home by $101 per year if bonds are issued for a 15-year term. That falls to $72 over 30 years.
___
Copyright 2025 Leighton Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, redistributed, or rewritten, in any way without consent.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!