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CORTLAND -- City council on Monday approved a change in the agreement with DS Architecture LLC of Cleveland for professional design services for the planned safety services complex as the square footage of the building has increased.
Council President Kevin Piros said the project's square footage has increased from 12,000 to 17,700-square feet, and the cost has increased to just over $9.5 million.
He said as the scope of the work changes or the size of the building is increased, the construction costs and consulting fees for the project also increase.
Finance Director Patricia Gibson said when DS gave its original quote for the project, it was for a slightly smaller building but to equip everyone who will be in the new building with what they need, the size of the building needed to increase.
"The project was looked at again and it was determined there was not enough room for everybody with 12,000-square feet so there needed to be an increase. When the size goes up, all the other costs go up," Piros said.
Gibson said the city is looking for grants and other funding sources to help with the costs. She said the city is getting funds from the state, $3.5 million from the federal government and borrowing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Gibson said the city is waiting to hear on the status of grants that have been sought.
The city identified the need for a new safety services complex and in July 2024 entered into an agreement with DS Architecture LLC for professional design services at a cost of $590,120. The Construction Manager At Risk, Infinity Construction, estimate dated for December resulted in a new construction cost of $9,506,624. Since the original contract between DS Architecture LLC and the city is based on 7% of the construction costs, the fee shall be increased by $122,964, bringing the new total contract amount to $712,444 for professional design services.
Councilman Richard McClain said he abstained from voting because "I did not understand it well enough to vote yes or no."
Council also approved the purchase of two generators from Buckeye Power to service city water well pumps at the new safety service complex.
Piros said council wanted to get them now because of the costs and delivery time.
"This way we can have them here and have them ready to be installed," he said.
The city's water system serves 7,100 residents and operates out of seven wells -- six of which require generators to ensure the continued operation of the well motors in the event of power outages.
Officials said the two new generators will address reducing the high-risk critical infrastructure failure for the city's water systems, and the two new generators will service two existing water well pumps and the new complex and four existing water well pumps located at the service garage.
The city entered an agreement with K2M Design to provide professional design services to perform site investigation, concept design, scope of services, permitting, bidding and construction administration services in the amount of $42,040 and recommends Buckeye Power for the project in an amount not to exceed $236,150.
Officials were recently notified that one of the generators increased in price by $1,725.
Gibson said the city was awarded $300,000 of American Rescue Plan funding by the Trumbull County commissioners to be used toward the purchase of standby power generators for the city's water supply system.
Council also heard from fire Chief David Rea, who said he has applied for grants for the fire department and also received a MARCS grant to cover costs for radios.
Because of the President's Day holiday, the next council meeting was rescheduled to 6 p.m. Feb. 19.