COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Some may say they are putting the cart before the horse, but the Branch County Board of Commissioners has begun the process of trying to find an architect to design a new county jail.
Of course, everything is contingent upon a millage question for a new jail being passed by Branch County taxpayers during the August 7, 2018 primary.
County Administrator Bud Norman explained two options during the commissioner’s Thursday morning work session.
Commissioners seemed to favor a process that would first ask for Request for Qualifications followed by a Request for Proposals.
That way, they can discard those who don’t have the proper qualifications right at the start of the process.
Norman said that RFQ/RFP process would take at least a couple of weeks longer, but he felt it was the better option.
Commissioners voted to bring Norman’s recommendation to next Tuesday’s meeting for formal action. If the millage question for a new jail is approved by voters this time, then a selection of an architect could be made by November.
