×

County board to consider jail diversion program pact, hangar repairs at Sawyer

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board today will consider potential changes to a proposed jail diversion program in response to construction bids that came in higher than expected.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. today in Room 231 of the Henry A. Skewis Annex Building, along Baraga Avenue in Marquette.

The jail diversion program is designed to keep non-violent offenders with mental health issues out of the criminal justice system, according to county documents.

Earlier this year, Pathways Community Mental Health received a roughly $260,000 state grant to develop the program. The funding will help fund staff time and the construction of two jail cells in the Marquette County Jail for the program. The organization and the county later made an agreement, part of which requires the county to manage construction.

Two bids of $223,300 and $226,150 were received from Gundlach Champion Inc. and Closner Construction, respectively.

In a memo to county officials, Facilities Manager Aaron Karlstrom wrote that the bids were higher than anticipated and exceeded the amount available for construction.

“Increased construction prices are a current trend in our area at this time due to the large amount of construction taking place,” he wrote.

But Karlstrom said value engineering approaches have reduced the projected cost by $11,500 by eliminating intercoms, commercial rubber flooring and paint from the base bid, according to his memo.

The county board at its meeting will consider a total construction cost of roughly $217,500.

Among other items, the board will also consider a nearly $908,000 bid for repair of the ceiling thermal fire barrier in hangars 664 and 665 at Sawyer International Airport.

The hangars are leased by American Envoy, and due to an agreement entered into September 1996, the county is responsible for maintaining the facilities if repairs or replacements exceed $2,500.

County employees recommended using $506,700 from the Airport Fund, and about $401,300 from the Severance Tax Reserve.

Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 270. His email address is rjarvi@miningjournal.net.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today