Brown County Commissioners Court has selected Waldrop Construction to begin contract negotiations for a major remodeling plan involving three county facilities in Brownwood. The decision moves the projects into a planning phase, but it does not yet approve a final construction contract.
Commissioners chose Waldrop over Shellback Construction of Brenham after representatives of both companies presented their proposals. Southwest Architects President Jeffrey Heffelfinger, whose firm is involved with the proposed work, listened to the presentations and asked questions alongside members of the Commissioners Court.
Three county facilities are part of the proposal
The largest project would transform the former Wendlee Broadcasting building at 600 Fisk, a property owned by the county. The proposal calls for gutting the building and building out office space for several county departments.
Some of those offices are currently located in the courthouse, while others are in the building county officials refer to as the elections building. The proposed layout could also provide space for the juvenile probation office.
A second project would remodel the current elections building so it can accommodate adult probation. A third would involve a smaller renovation inside the courthouse, converting the current tax assessor-collector’s office into a treasurer’s office, potentially combined with an auditor’s office.
Waldrop must negotiate the contract
Brown County Judge Tom Munson said the county will now try to negotiate an agreement with Waldrop Construction. If those negotiations fail, commissioners could return to Shellback Construction and attempt to negotiate with that company instead.
“After consideration, we elected to move forward with Waldrop Construction to the next phase, which is to try to negotiate a contract with Waldrop. If for some reason that would fail and we felt like we needed to go a different direction, then we would go back and then try to see if we can negotiate with Shellback Construction.”
The construction manager at risk would work with the architect to develop cost estimates before the county decides whether to proceed with the plan as proposed or make changes. The firm would also help oversee construction and assist with selecting subcontractors.
Munson described the selection as a significant step, but said the county has not yet made the final decision to move forward with construction.
Experience influenced the selection
Munson said both contractors were highly qualified and that the decision was close. He said Waldrop’s experience with similar projects led commissioners to select the Brownwood-area company for the local work.
“It was close but we just felt like for this local project that Waldrop would be the best choice for Brown County.”
The proposed renovations are intended to consolidate and reorganize county offices across 600 Fisk, the elections building and the courthouse. The next stated step is contract negotiation, followed by cost-estimate work that will help commissioners determine whether the project should proceed as planned or be revised.
