While some remain at odds with the concept, the Lyon County Commissioners last week approved moving forward with advertizing for a ‘Construction Manager At Risk’ to oversee the jail expansion/construction project.

Commissioners Don Tibbals and Larry McPherson were the dissenters in the 3-2 vote.

According to Project Manager Donette Barreto, advertizing will be done with the assistance of the State Public Works Department and according to NRS specifications.  Following the close of Requests for Qualifications (RFQ), a short list of between two to five proposals will be compiled by a selection committee of at least three people. 

These finalists will be sent a Request for Final Proposals.  The final two or three applicants will then be selected for interview by the Board of Commissioners.

If all goes according to schedule, a final selection will be made in January and negotiations with the contractor will take place for Preconstruction Services. 

Barreto said this time frame works well into the architect’s wishes to have the CM assist with the design methods and costs, as they will just be getting into the construction document phase at that time.

If all goes well and no conflicts or concerns arise during the pre-construction phase, the County would then enter into a Full Contract with the same Construction Manager.  There is no obligation to follow through with the CM if problems do arise.

The County is not obligated to hire the contractor with the lowest bid and Barreto said going with the lowest bidder is not the best avenue in such projects.

“It is not desirable for a jail project that is very complex with complex components to it.  We need a level of expertise and because of budget constraints we want the ‘costing’ done well,” she explained. 

She said the architect and CM will ‘cost’ the project separately, so they will have two estimates heading into what will be major county financial venture – considerably reducing the chances of change orders as the process moves forward.

In reference to the $130,000 already committed to the architectural firm, Commissioner Tibbals expressed concern the County would be paying two contractors “to do the same thing”.  He also was concerned as to who pays the Contract Manager.

District Attorney Bob Auer explained how the roles differ, noting the architect deals with the design of the project and the  Construction Manager deals with managing the actual construction of the project.

The Construction Manager At Risk takes responsibility for all subcontracting.  These costs are included within the CM’s contract with the County.

“If you are comfortable with it, I guess we will just have to move right to the end,” Tibbals noted.

When asked by Commission Chair Phyllis Hunewill to explain his vote against the motion, Commissioner McPherson stated “I was told to stay out of this thing, so that is what I am doing.  If I don’t approve everything that’s put on the table I (was told I) should keep my mouth shut and not participate, so I’m not.”

This was in apparent reference to comments made by Commissioner Chuck Roberts at the October 18, 2009 meeting.  When Commissioner Larry McPherson continued to question the Yerington site,  he was reminded by Commissioner Chuck Roberts the commission voted (3-2) over a year ago to limit the addressing of jail crowding and safety concerns to the current Yerington jail site and it was inappropriate to continually bring this issue up.