COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Jonesville company has won the right to build a new Branch County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle and evidence storage garage.
The Branch County Board of Commissioners brought forward a low base bid of $913,746 from DH Roberts during their work session on Thursday. It was one of four bids submitted for the project. Formal action by the Commissioners is expected next Tuesday.
Administrator Frank Walsh says DH Roberts also submitted a couple of deductions which lowered the price by $27,000. The two deductions would adjust the amount of insurance required and reject the use of a web-based project software. That would bring the total bid down to $886,746.
Quest Design Build of Grand Rapids submitted a bid of $978,065. The Kalleward Group of Kalamazoo submitted a bid of $1,088,400. The company recently renovated the courtrooms in the Branch County Courthouse. Corrigan Construction of Brighton submitted a bid of over $1,176,000.
The garage will fill a long-standing need for additional vehicle and evidence storage that was deferred during the initial construction of the current Branch County Jail. Sheriff Fred Blankenship previously said that the need for the facility has grown significantly, and the project is expected to be funded using approximately $1-point-6 million in excess millage funds, negating the need for the county to borrow additional capital.
Walsh says the county has set aside funds to build the exterior building since 2021.
Besides the vehicle and evidence storage, the new building will also provide a temporary housing location for inmates in the event of a disaster at the main jail.
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