OTTAWA — This morning, the Franklin County commissioners, sitting as the public building commission, accepted the low bid of slightly more than $3 million from Loyd Builders of Ottawa to build a new juvenile detention center. Architect Dan Rowe said the low bid was nearly $300,000 below the estimate. All bids from 19 bidders were fiercely competitive, showing it’s a buyer’s market for those entities building new facilities, Rowe said. There are some last-minute changes that popped up after the bid specificiations were sent out including the need for a generator backup if power goes out, a request by Ottawa planning officials for changes in the bottom floor’s elevation and a revised cost from Kansas Gas Service for providing gas to the new facility, he said. However, because Loyd’s bid came in so far under the estimate, that the changes can be easily incorporated, he said. County administrator Lisa Johnson said Neosho County Community College is on track to move from its Second and Beech campus during spring break. The county expects to take possession of the old campus April 1, she said. Construction should begin in mid-April, she said.
Thursday, March 10, 2 p.m.
