Penzel Construction will be the design-builder of the new Jackson police station.
Penzel had the highest technical score (49.3 out of a possible 50 points) and the lowest cost proposal ($6,500,000). Kiefner Brothers Inc. scored 45 points and had a cost proposal of $6,582,000.
The technical scores and cost proposals were revealed in a public meeting Monday afternoon, Dec. 3.
Later that evening, in a study session of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, the two proposals were discussed.
Penzel received a total score of 99.3 and Kiefner Bros. received a total score of 94.38. The Selection Committee will bring a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen at the next meeting (Dec. 17) that Penzel be awarded the design-build contract.
The design-build process was praised. The City is getting a better building for a lower cost. The original request from the City was for a 15,000-square-foot building. Penzel’s proposal is for an 18,000 square foot building, which was larger than that of Kiefner Bros., although both were larger than 15,000 square feet.
Both companies presented high-quality proposals, and their scores were closer together than what was expected. Penzel’s proposal barely edged Kiefner Bros.’ proposal.
Alderman Joe Bob Baker, who is a member of the Selection Committee, listed a few things he liked better in the Penzel proposal.
“This design looked so much more pleasing to me,” he said. “The flow [of the way the floor plan was laid out] was better.” In addition, Kiefner’s floor plan listed 6-foot-wide hallways while Penzel’s were 7 feet wide. Baker thought the wider hallways would better accommodate police officers wearing equipment on their belts.
In addition, Penzel’s plan has an outside entrance to the training room on the right side of the building which allows groups such as the Major Case Squad to assemble without going through the public entrance. Penzel’s plan also has two entrances on the left side of the building off Missouri Street. The Kiefner Bros. plan had one entrance there.
Although a proposed rendering was provided by each company, the actual design process for the building has not yet begun. The final structure may look different than the rendering.
Construction will take about 14-1/2 months.
In other action:
• Wastewater: the Board approved a $1,242,000 task order to Horner & Shifrin Inc. of St. Louis to provide engineering services for the Wastewater Facility Plan Implementation Program. The vote was 6-1 with Alderman Larry Cunningham opposed and Alderman Katy Liley absent.
• UJRO: The Board authorized an agreement with the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization to provide services in exchange for funding.
• Paving: The Board approved a $13,750.50 change order to Jokerst Inc. of Ste. Genevieve for its work on the 2018 Annual Asphalt Paving Improvement Program.
• East Main & Oak Hill: the Board agreed to pay Fronabarger Concreters of Oak Ridge $510,124.25 for work on the Traffic signal Project at East Main Street and Oak Hill Road.
• Bicentennial celebration: In study session, Michael Sweeney from the Missouri Historical Society gave a presentation offering suggestions for celebrating the state’s bicentennial in 2020.
Some projects are being conducted on a statewide basis. He encouraged Jackson to hold its own celebrations as it joined the statewide efforts.
Sweeney said a Missouri Encyclopedia is being created and asked for input on places and events that shaped our community.
In addition, there is a photograph project that plans to take 200 photographs on a tour of the state beginning Nov. 1, 2019. Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit photos of Missouri to be included.
Another project is to create a bicentennial quilt made up of blocks from every county. This will also will tour the state for two years, beginning in early 2020.
Another statewide project Sweeney mentioned is “Missouri Community Legacies,” a type of time capsule that documents local traditions and explains how communities see themselves. This is intended to be a “snapshot of Missouri” as it exists during the bicentennial.
Sweeney said he was not here to force Jackson into celebrating in a certain way. “We’re here to help you do what you want to do,” he said.
• Humane Society: Three representatives from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri gave a presentation to the Board during study session.
After studying how other animal shelters operate in similar communities (Anna, IL, and McCracken County, KY), the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri has opted to increase its fees to its contracted partners and rely less on fundraising to cover its cost of operations.
The City of Jackson currently pays the Humane Society $26,000 a year to provide services to animals brought there from the city by the police department’s animal control officer or by a resident. The Humane Society wants to increase that fee to $42,250 in 2019, $58,500 in 2020 and $74,750 in 2021.
The Humane Society is seeking similar increases from all nine entities (cities and counties) that contract for its services. Under old contracts, the cities and counties paid for half the cost of taking care of the animals and the shelter found other funds — such as donations from fund-raising projects — to make up the difference. It is now asking each contracted entity to pay its full share of the cost, which amounts to more than $100 per animal per year.
More than 3,000 animals are brought to the shelter every year. Each animal is scanned to see if it is micro-chipped and belongs to someone. Then the animals are given medical exams and medical care if needed. They are housed and fed according to regulations set by the state. If an animal must be euthanized, the shelter pays for a veterinarian to do that. In 2006, 4,000 animals were euthanized. Since that time, the Humane Society has worked toward becoming a no-kill facility. Today, there is a 94 percent release rate. The average length of stay is 22 days.
“I think we’re as important as a city park,” said Charlotte Craig. “Dog bites are down. Strays are down. People have a place to take animals.”
The Humane Society also sponsors two programs. Puppies for Parole sends animals to the Potosi Correctional Institution where convicts train them for various jobs. Four or five of these animals have gone to help autistic children, Craig explained.
A second program is Buddies for the Brave. Dogs may be adopted for half price and cats for free by military personnel. They help the military personnel deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, Craig added.
When a city contracts with the Humane Society, “you are not turned down” when an animal is brought in, Craig said. “The animal control officer has a key to the outside kennel. We take from others only if there is room.”
Mayor Dwain Hahs requested a copy of the Humane Society’s budget and a copy of the formula it used to determine the costs it wants to charge the City of Jackson before the City considers paying the higher rates.
• Retail development agreement: Kyle Thompson updated the Board on programs spearheaded by Jen Berti, the director of membership and retail development for the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. The City helps sponsor this position to create business recruitment in Jackson.
Berti announced that a Jimmy Johns Restaurant is coming to Jackson.
• MoDOT agreement for Highway 61: Jason Williams from the Missouri Department of Transportation explained a resurfacing project planned for Highway 61 between Highway 25 and Fruitland.
In addition to resurfacing, the turn lane at Route D will be tripled in length, a bridge rail over Hubble Creek will be replaced because it is substandard in height, and repairs will be made to the road between Hubble Creek and the roundabout.
Work will be done next summer. Northbound traffic will remain open during construction but southbound traffic will be closed for 10-15 days and will be detoured from Highway 61 onto Route D to Farmington Street.
• Nuisance lien: The Board discussed a nuisance lien to 529 Elm Street. When a property that was in foreclosure needed to be mowed, the City mowed the grass and recorded liens of $407 and $309 totaling $716. The liens accrued interest at 8 percent so that the lien now totals $1,310. A title company has asked the City to waive the interest charges. The Council expressed no interest in waiving those fees.
