March 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Bids were opened a week ago for construction of a new Smithville Police Department Building but they were much more than anticipated.
(Click link below to view plans)
The lowest of the five bids submitted came from the Boyce Ballard Construction Company of Murfreesboro for $2.685 million for an occupied area of 11,470 square feet and does not count the cost of furnishing the building. Original plans were to keep the project at around 7,800 square feet and at or below $2 million.
“I think when we first started this project we were thinking $2 million but since the first draft the plan has kind of ballooned out a little,” said Mayor Josh Miller during a work session with the aldermen Monday night at city hall.
“This bid of $2.6 million does not count furnishings. It’s just getting the building built and ready to furnish,” said Mayor Miller.
After furnishings are included, the total project could come to more than $2.8 million.
For some aldermen, that cost is too much.
“We need to cut that $2.8 million down. There is a lot of stuff in there priced sky high. The best tile you can get. That is ridiculous. We don’t need that. The most expensive thing is the tile and masonry work. They can go back to the table on this. I don’t want to put it off. I just want to cut this price. Cut corners where you can and tell them to give us a good building and still get what we want,” said Alderman Danny Washer.
“I think that may be what we should do is say we are really needing to keep this around the $2 million mark. What can you do to bring it down there?” added Alderman Gayla Hendrix.
Last year the city contracted with Wayne Oakley of Studio Oakley Architects, LLC of Lebanon for the design of the facility at a cost of $105,000 which was included in the 2019-20 budget as engineering fees. Oakley prepared construction documents and assisted the city in putting the project out for bids.
During Monday night’s work session, John Werner, Vice President of Cumberland Securities of Knoxville met with the Mayor and Aldermen as an advisor to outline financing options through general obligation bonds with repayment terms over 12 to 25 years.
“What are your thoughts on our ability to do this (project based on this bid)” asked Alderman Hendrix.
“It is my opinion that the city could do itself a favor if it did a tax increase to bring in some additional money based on what I was looking at (city finances) for the previous five years,” replied Werner.
However Werner was unaware that the city had raised the property tax rate by 25 cents last summer which is projected to generate up to $350,000 in new local revenues. City officials are hoping that expansion in home construction and increased liquor tax revenues will also help shore up city coffers.
“In your opinion are we in a better position to do something around $2 million,” asked Alderman Hendrix.
“I don’t know the answer to that because I haven’t seen what your latest revenues look like,” answered Werner.
Mayor Miller said based on conversations with Oakley Architects the city may be able to consult with the low bidder, Boyce Ballard Construction to “see what we can cut or shave”.
No action has yet been taken.
For more than 40 years the Smithville Police Department has been headquartered in the City Hall building downtown.
Police Chief Mark Collins has said the existing police department has outgrown city hall with offices scattered out on both floors of the two story building creating a lack of room and security.
Plans are to build the new police department on the north side of the city hall/fire department complex at Don Cantrell Street on land donated to the city.