COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted to bring forward to Tuesday’s meeting the formal hiring of Byce-Securiture and Associates out of Kalamazoo to be the architect and engineer for the new county jail.
It’s estimated the cost of building the new jail will be at least $22 million. It’s being made possible after Branch County voters approved a millage question last August.
Representatives from four architectural firms were interviewed by the Commissioners last Thursday.
According to an interview evaluation form, Byce-Securiture and Associates had the best score with BKV Group and Tower Pinkster tied for second and Elevatus Architecture close behind. The evaluation covered such areas as relevance and experience, qualifications and quality of the proposal.
Elevatus Architecture submitted the lowest jail evaluation fee of $948,500 for a modified prototype jail which was about less than Byce-Securiture’s $1,240,000 proposal. Elevatus was the only company to submit a bid for a prototype jail. It would also be about $363,000 less than a so-called custom built jail according to a second bid submitted by Elevatus.
County Administrator Bud Norman said after checking with the other three firms, they said they would be interested in bidding on a prototype jail.
But Commissioner Terri Norris said it was time to move forward saying there was already a process that has been followed and that it was fair.
The Commissioners decision angered Sheriff John Pollack who felt his department and their recommendations on the new jail were ignored.
