A divided Tazewell County Board on Wednesday approved a guaranteed maximum price agreement with construction manager P.J. Hoerr for the construction of the county's Justice Center Annex.
The $41,151,257 guaranteed maximum price doesn't include architect and engineering costs.
The board vote was 12-7 for the guaranteed maximum price. A request to table the vote until March so two new board members could get up to speed on the annex project and the county can purchase five lots from Pekin failed 11-8.
Board members who voted for the guaranteed maximum price couldn't understand the opposition.
"This protects us if the cost of any commodity goes up," said Nick Graff.
"We've been working on this project for 3 1/2 years. We been dragging our heels. It's time to get going and get this done," said Nancy Proehl.
"We've needed a quarterback for this project. Now we have one in P.J. Hoerr and Wold (Architects)," said Tammy Rich-Stimson. "We need to let them take us across the finish line."
Peoria-based P.J. Hoerr and Wold, which has an office in Palatine, were hired by the board in February.
Greg Longfellow said those who wanted to delay the guaranteed maximum price vote were expressing their opposition to the annex project, and it was too late for that.
"We're deep into this," he said. "We've already spent $600,000 with Wold. This board has voted for a design for the annex and a $44 million budget. Delaying the vote on the guaranteed maximum price won't help in any way."
The board in August approved a schematic design for the four-level, 79,000-square-foot annex and an estimated cost of $44,042,739.
Since then, P.J. Hoerr has used value engineering analysis of a more detailed design to reduce the estimated cost to $43,334,323. Value engineering is a process used to lower the cost of a project without significantly impacting quality.
P.J. Hoerr would be responsible for any overage in the guaranteed maximum price.
"We have $44 million in the bank (including $20 million in federal funds) for this project," said board chairman Dave Zimmerman. "I just don't get wanting to delay it."
John Sutherland, vice president of strategic development for P.J. Hoerr, said his firm is continuing to look for cost savings for the annex project and expects Wold to be done with design work in February.
"We're pushing them," he said with a smile.
The project cost includes $3,468,296 for contingencies and $3,000,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The annex will be built just north of the county's Justice Center on South Capitol Street in downtown Pekin.
County, 15 communities approve animal control agreements
Intergovernmental agreements with 15 communities for Tazewell County to provide animal control services starting Jan. 1 and continuing through 2025 were approved by the board Wednesday. Each community previously approved its agreement with the county.
Here are the communities and their annual cost to the county for animal control services:
- Pekin: $62,668.02
- East Peoria: $34,409.16
- Washington: $18,520.52
- Morton: $14,817.22
- Creve Coeur: $10,258.40
- Marquette Heights: $3,821.99
- Delavan: $3,418.84
- Tremont: $2,715.82
- Mackinaw: $2,569.12
- North Pekin: $2,450.76
- South Pekin: $2,094.46
- Hopedale: $1,268.68
- Green Valley: $968.41
- Deer Creek:$855.28
- Armington: $630.26
County takes more steps to improve online security
Also Wednesday, the board approved:
- Paying Heart Technologies of East Peoria $185,997 for new personal computers, $44,196 for new laptops for the state's attorney's office, and $183,865 to install a fiber ring between county buildings in downtown Pekin. Each expenditure is part of the county's effort to improve online security following last year's cyber attack.
- Using $3.9 million in motor fuel tax funds during 2025 for street maintenance.
- A tentative three-year contract agreement with Teamsters Local 627 effective Dec. 1, 2023 through Nov. 30, 2026. Included in the contract are 6% raises on Dec. 1, 2023 and Dec. 1, 2024, and a 2% raise on Nov. 30, 2025.
- Raises of 3% each year for four years (2024-27) for members of the county's Board of Review. The members' current wage of $31,071 will climb to $35,310 in 2027. The raise percentage increases match those given to county officials.
- A two-year extension of a broker service agreement for property and casualty insurance programs through 2027 with Morton-based Envision Insurance Group at an annual cost of $28,000.
Final meeting for county board chairman Dave Zimmerman
Wednesday was the last board meeting for Zimmerman, who did not run for re-election as board chairman Nov. 5.
The Morton resident served on the board for 27 years, including being the chair since he was elected to the position in 2008. He was re-elected three times. He was appointed to the board in 1997 and was a board member until 2008.
"This meeting is adjourned. For me, forever," Zimmerman said with a smile at the conclusion of Wednesday's meeting.
County Auditor Brett Grimm will take over next month as the board chairman.
