PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners and staff plan a $4 million facility remodeling and expansion project at its Four Corners Road headquarters in an effort to bring all employees and operations under one roof.
“There will be no new fiscal impact related to the consolidation of the operations center project,” General Manager Larry Dunbar said during a project presentation to commissioners and the public Tuesday evening.
He explained that a portion of the PUD cash reserves designated for next year’s facility expenses will be used to pay for the project.
It is anticipated that the 4,500-square-foot expansion will be completed early 2020.
“The PUD currently has an insufficient number of work spaces which all vary in age and are rugged, well-used, and show their wear and tear,” Dunbar said.
Dunbar said the existing headquarters building at 310 Four Corners Road is 40 years old and serves as the operations center for the utility. It is at capacity with 35 employees, which includes its customer service group.
A building at 230 Chimacum Road currently serves as an administration building and is being sold. A leased facility across the street is office space for 10 employees. Five employees work out of the PUD-owned water treatment facility at Kennedy Road.
Commissioners Jeff Randall, Kenneth Collins and Wayne King approved the purchase and installation of a modular building to supplement office space during the remodeling and expansion.
The building will be used primarily by electric and water operations and engineering personnel.
Design Space Modular Buildings of Richland was the lone bidder; the bid was $213,344.
Delivery and set-up is anticipated in November.
The total cost of the project is $243,343,52 which includes permitting, plumbing, septic, and electrical service connections.
Dunbar said adequate funding is available within the 2018 budget for the purchase.
TCF Architecture of Tacoma is under contract with the district for design of the operations center and Dunbar said he is estimating that the project will come in under budget.
“I told the architect that we have to stay under budget,” he said. “This is a utility building. We are going to use it, use it hard, put dents and scratches in it, and eventually wear it out. We don’t need it to be a highly attractive building.”
PUD Management Consultant Don McDaniel is working with the firm to address any additional needs before final designs are drawn.
The building is expected to have an open-style floor plan with 31 workstations and the ability to move dividers and create additional desk space as needed.
Also planned are six private offices, two conference rooms, and four customer service workstations. There is a break room, parking for 42 employees and 21 visitor parking spaces.
“There’s no exercise room or entertainment room, just all basic, utilitarian work spaces,” Dunbar said.
“Dan is working with the architect on security as well,” he said. “The public will come into lobby and be escorted into the rest of the building. For the protection of our employees, there will be other security enhancements as well.”
Throughout the process, management hopes to minimize the impact on employees who have had to move more than once.
“It’s going to be two years before we reach the end state. We are looking forward to being under the same roof,” Dunbar sad.
Design work is expected to be finished next month for review and approval by the commission. After design completion, the construction documents including the bid documentation will be prepared and sent off to bid. Because this is a public work project, the contract will be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder.
Permitting will begin in early 2019, and in April, the contract will be awarded and construction will begin, with an anticipated completion of February 2020.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
