Firm Hired For Detention Facility
Sonora, CA– The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors reviewed the Sonora Juvenile Detention Facility planning process and selected a construction management firm for phase one of the project.
Deputy County Administrator Maureen Frank says, “The plans for the Sonora Juvenile Detention Facility are 90% complete”. Funding for this phase is allready allocated in the 2013-14 budget. Frank says, “We pride ourselves on being good stewards of the money we receive.” She noted that the plans are scheduled to be reviewed by the State Public Works Board in April.
Frank outlined qualities the county needs in a management firm. She noted they will have to complete the plans, create a master schedule for entire project, and advertise for bids from contractors for construction. She says, “We want to meet the deadlines that we set out.” She added the management company should; “make sure that contractors up and down the state know about this project, understand this project, and come in and bid it,” She says they should “make sure those construction dollars, as much as possible, can stay in this county and revolve.”
Frank says, “Vanir Construction Management best exemplified what we were looking for; a firm that had experience building detention facilities.” Vanir has an office in Sacramento and several others in California, as well as in other states and internationally. Their website is www.vanir.com
The Supervisors voted unanimously for Vanir Construction Management Firm to oversee the planning process of the Sonora Juvenile Detention Facility. At the end of Phase One the construction contracts will be awarded and Vanir, or another company, could be chosen by the board to manage the rest of the project.
Construction will begin after Phase One at the Justice Center Property off Old Wards Ferry Road. The new facility is planned to have a capacity for 30 beds, with a second 30 bed expansion if it is needed in the future. The County was approved for a $16 million state grant in 2009 to build the facility.
Further budget details are in the news story “Changes In Juvenile Detention Facility Budget” here. The Juvenile Detention Facility was approved in 2011, the news story is here. The facility is scheduled to open no later than December 2015.
