Penzel Construction recommended to build Jackson's new police station

Jackson�s new police station will be built by a team headed by Penzel Construction, officials recommended Monday at the Jackson Board of Aldermen regular meeting.

During a public meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, Jackson�s design-build consultant George Harris opened the technical proposal and cost estimate for the project from two firms, Penzel�Construction and Kiefner Brothers of Cape Girardeau. The technical proposals were scored across five categories, weighted in importance, and Penzel scored 49.3 out of a possible 50. Kiefner Brothers scored 45 of 50.

Penzel�s cost estimate was $6.5 million for the police station, and Kiefner Brothers $6.582 million, Harris said.

Per state statute, Harris said, the low price proposal receives more points in the final total.

�It was pretty close,� Harris said: Penzel�s total was 99.3 out of a possible 100 points. Kiefner�s total was 94.38.

�We had two strong proposals,� Harris said.

Penzel is proposing an 18,000-square-foot building, Harris said, and noted both proposals were over the 15,000 square feet originally requested.

Originally, the city had looked at a $7 million budget for the police station, but these budgets came in below that.

The contract has not been finalized, Harris said, but after the terms are agreed to between the city and Penzel Construction, construction is expected to take about 14 to 15 months.

Alderman Joe Bob Baker said in his opinion, Penzel�s design is the more pleasing of the two. He cited the hallways, 7 feet wide in Penzel�s design and 6 feet in Kiefner Brothers�, as improving the overall flow in the building, among other advantages.

Harris said the building will be more functional as a police station.

�The facility now has fire and the police department housed together,� he said, adding schoolchildren could be on a tour looking at a fire truck mere feet from a potential suspect being escorted into the police station.

City manager Jim Roach said the next step will be to have the selection committee bring the recommendation of the Penzel proposal for acceptance of the board.

Roach noted this process takes �a long time.� Baker agreed, and said Monday was the fifth anniversary of the project committee�s formation.

Baker said seven companies originally were in the running.

�They were all great,� he said. �Any of them could have built a great police station.�

In response to Alderman Dave Hitt�s question about whether the project includes any work on the fire station, Roach said no, that is a separate project.

The new station is to be build adjacent to the current station, with the fire department then taking over the rest of the building.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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