The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Public safety warehouse project adds $1.1 million in contracts
NORRISTOWN >> Building a warehouse and garage on the grounds of the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s campus was allocated another $1.1 million as an amendment to an existing contract at the Nov. 17 county commissioners meeting.
Commissioners voted 2-1 vote on the action as Commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh and Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. endorsed the item, while Commis
sioner Joe Gale opposed it.
The initial $9.08 million agreement with SJ Thomas Co. Inc., of Lansdowne, approved in March 2021, covered the “construction of a warehouse and garage facility.”
Another $178,790 was allocated in July 2021 to construct a Sept. 11 memorial on the public safety campus. Work encompassed the building of a base, as well as landscaping, paving and electrical work. Additionally, the contract allowed for the memorial’s installation.
However, the Montgomery County Department of Assets and Infrastructure required 1,107,386 more to cover costs of remaining projects.
The following items were categorized in the seven-figure contract amendment:
• $441,596 for county-requested extension of canopy of warehouse to cover loading dock
• $121,964 for the modification of 8’ to 12’ concrete masonry unit blocks and associated foundation modifications
• $115,149 for the modification of warehouse sprinkler system to early suppression, fast response ceiling mounted system due to the change in height of racking system, plus an added permit fee required by Lower Providence Township
• $101,061 for the removal of monument sign and security modifications at the design team’s request, as well as an addition of dock leveler at the county’s request
• $97,943 for the cost of rock excavation, as a result of rock encountered while installing sanitary lines
• $69,683 for additional building mounted signage at the county’s request
• $44,252 for construction permit fees, additional engineering services, as well as a deduction for the construction trailer
• $33,948 expansion of warehouse office area with additional windows per the county’s request
• $21,201 for various exploratory digs at the request of PA American Water to locate the source of a leak and to determine exact layout of pipe from the meter pit
• $20,269 for new manholes required by the Sewer Authority as well as the labor associated with the installation
• $16,571 for labor, material, and equipment costs for water tap required, which is in accordance with Line Extension Agreement between
PA American Water and the county
• $9,776 for the cost to raise the installed manholes to the revised grade elevation per request of engineering firm Gannett Fleming
• $9,139 for Additional electrical work as a result of county-requested forklift charging station
• $4,826 for the addition of a stone paved lot at the county’s request
The revised figure now stands at $10,345,961.