The Jefferson County Health Department has awarded a $7,942,300 contract to Brockmiller Construction in Farmington to build the department’s new office in Hillsboro.
The Health Department Board of Trustees voted 4-0 Oct. 26 to award the contract to Brockmiller, which submitted the lowest of five bids for the project. Board member Amber Henry was absent from the meeting.
Jim Huber, a managing principal of Kirkwood-based Archimages, a planning, architecture and interior design firm the Health Department hired to oversee the project, said a building committee interviewed the three lowest bidders earlier this month, making sure they were comparing “apples to apples,” and recommended Brockmiller for the project.
Huber said in addition to being the low bidder, Brockmiller gave a good presentation, had a shorter construction timeline and included a lot of local subcontractors and lumber companies in the building project.
He said he believes Brockmiller was not only the lowest bidder, but also the most qualified for the job.
Huber also said Brockmiller’s bid called for construction to be complete in 54 weeks, adding that the company is good about sticking with its timelines.
Brockmiller has completed a lot buildings in the area, including some for Mercy Hospital Jefferson and the Festus School District.
Board member Tammy Stidem said she was impressed that Brockmiller was the only company that said it would reuse topsoil and not bring in dirt.
Board president Tim Pigg said the Health Department has to get a bank loan in place to fund the project, and he expects the board will need to schedule a special meeting before the regular November meeting in order to approve the loan.
Huber said once funding is approved, Brockmiller is ready to start work on the project.
The 19,957-square-foot, one-story building will be constructed on the 7.75 acres of land the department purchased in February 2021 near highways 21 and B in the Pear Tree Plaza bordering the Hillsboro City Park.
The building will replace the agency’s current 70-year-old, 9,810-square-foot office at 405 Main St. Once the new building is constructed, the agency plans to sell its Main Street location, Health Department Executive Director Kelley Vollmar said.
The Health Department also has an office in Arnold.
In April 2022, the department awarded a $705,250 contract to Archimages to design and oversee construction.
Preliminary budget
Also, during the Oct. 26 meeting, the board voted 3-1 to approve the $9.7 million budget for the Health Department for fiscal year 2024, which begins Jan. 1. Wages and benefits account for most of the expenses at more than $6 million.
Of the $9.7 million in expected operating revenue, $3.7 million is from grants and donations.
Stidem, Pigg and Dennis Diehl voted to approve the budget as presented, while board member Suzie Davis voted against it.
During the meeting, staff explained $830,000 was budgeted for capital improvements with $600,000 of that budgeted for loan payments on the new building and $230,000 for roof improvements.
Vollmar said over the years, the department has put aside some funds in anticipation of building the new office.
Staff also explained the department has budgeted for the possibility of using $350,000 from reserve funds. Of that, $250,000 is budgeted in the event the agency doesn’t receive a grant for mobile wellness.
The budget includes $60,000 for legal fees. In addition, another $100,000 was put in as a “contingency” in case it needed for unforeseeable legal fees in case a lawsuit were to be filed against the Health Department.
Davis objected to that $100,000 for possible legal services and asked the board to be frugal this year.
Pigg pointed out there will be some legal fees related to the new construction. He added the budget is a best guess, not what the department will definitely spend.