Officials have packed agendas for St. Clair County’s board committee sessions on Thursday, including a few new requests for federal COVID stimulus funds.
And the biggest of those requests — drawing from the county’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds — would go toward an architecture firm to relocate the health department.
County administration is recommending the board of commissioners sign off a $557,485 contract with firm NORR to outfit the main administration building, 200 Grand River Ave., in downtown Port Huron once the health agency moves from its 28th Street facility, which Board Chairman Jeff Bohm last month called “by far the worst building the county has” among its aging properties.
“As you can see from the bid tabulation, three of the cost proposals were very close,” Jennifer Posey, administrative services manager, wrote in a memo to the board, citing NORR’s experience with medical facilities and ARPA projects.
“… Upon approval, NORR will work with county staff to prepare drawings, bid documents, and solicit bids for a general contractor for the health department renovation and relocation project.”
In August, county board members agreed to allocate $1 million in ARPA to each of their seven districts with the remaining $9.8 million of the roughly $31 million originally received by the county going toward health department facility needs.
In response to a request for proposals earlier this summer, NORR’s was one of four bids, and though not the cheapest, the highest came in approaching $750,000.
Those bids included the inventory of furnishings, as well as construction and engineering oversight. Under NORR’s bid, the timeline for construction documents was six months. According to Posey’s memo, four firms had attended a walk-through of the existing and new facilities as part of a mandatory step in the bid submission process.
Posey reported that further inquiries were needed to analyze bidders. The interview committee consisted of County Administrator Karry Hepting, Chief Health Officer Liz King, and four other administrative or accounting officials, including Posey.
What else is on tap for the board on Thursday?
The board’s shift to refocus use of ARPA funds last month came after months of discussion surrounding 26 Mile Road.
Since then, county commissioners have varied in how they plan to approach putting their newly allocated $1 million to use. Local governments have until the end of 2024 to designate the federal funding.
Despite the new funding, some officials still have some funds remaining from an initial $500,000 allocation made to each commissioner two years ago.
On Thursday, Commissioner Lisa Beedon is asking to put $9,675 from that allocation toward the Blue Water Ally Center, which submitted an ARPA request for a security system, bathroom signs and locks, furniture, bookshelves, blinds, and ceiling fans.
A request to Commissioner Joi Torello’s district is also being amended for the Visiting Nurse Association Health Services’ Blue Water Hospice Home with $63,700 going toward what CEO and President Angela DeLaere called “an unforeseen additional cost” with their in-house call light system and patient room phones and the equipment, install, and initial cost of a new setup.
Previously, board members have also put some of the county’s ARPA funds toward capital improvement needs, and in continued general requests this month, St. Clair County Undersheriff Jim Spadafore is asking for just over $30,000 for a new storage building for the sheriff’s department, which includes a 30-by-40-foot steels structure, cement, and site preparation.
Also on committee agendas Thursday:
A renewal of the county’s medical examiner services agreement with Michigan Forensics and a four-year, $3,378,854 contract
A request to convert 12 part-time library branch assistants to full-time positions for a net increase cost of $412,977 in the St. Clair County Library District
An agreement not to exceed $100,000 with Housing Matters Inc. and the Port Huron Housing Commission to be taken from the Senior Citizens’ Millage fund balance to renovate a home
A four-year contract between the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Anchor Bay School District for a police liaison officer
Accepting approval of a $270,000 grant agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the development of property along the North Channel of the St. Clair River in Clay Township into a county park
Most agenda items discussed by county commissioners at committee are traditionally sent to the full board meeting the third Thursday of each month, though some items may be for final action.
Agenda items can be viewed online at http://publicagenda.stclaircounty.org.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the board of commissioners’ room on the second floor of the administration building, 200 Grand River Ave.
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.
