COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A member of a citizens committee that supported the successful passage of a millage request for a new Branch County Jail last year blasted County Commissioners during their work session on Thursday saying the process in executing the construction project has been in part haphazard.
David McMillan also felt things have been “ill-defined and not prosecuted with the level of urgency required.”
He said the board has left Sheriff John Pollack and his team on the periphery of the project and they are the last to know about new developments. McMillian said the result to date has been a project that moves in “fits and starts with no clear direction.”
County Administrator Bud Norman recommended McMillan be on a seven person Jail Committee last March but he was left off following a 4-1 vote by Commissioners over what was perceived to be a liability issue since he is not a county employee or connected to the county. Leonard Kolcz cast the only no vote.
McMillan, who is the chair of the Branch County Democratic Party and has been involved in volunteer work locally, worked in construction management before retiring in 2014. He continued to advise Pollack on the jail project as the Sheriff has no construction experience.
Byce and Associates was hired by commissioners back in January for $1.2 million to be the architects and engineers for the new jail. They indicated in a 39 page schematic design report for the Commissioners last month that construction documents for the early bid package will be issued in September and for the full bid package in December. The early bid packages are scheduled to be received in October with the reception of the full bid package in January.
Early construction is scheduled to start in October with construction scheduled to be completed in December of 2020 which is several months later than originally planned.
The Commissioners approved the location and design of the new jail during their July 22 meeting. Next up will be presentations on its budget and for the project’s bonding.
