Linn County takes bids on new Juvenile Court building

Linn County Supervisors could award a contract Wednesday for another major county flood rebuilding project.

Last month, the county began demolition of the flood-damaged old Freeway Lounge at 801 Third St. S.W.  That's the location for the county's new Juvenile Court building.

Linn County purchased the one time bar a number of years ago to provide land for future development.  The bar business was lost to high water in the flood of June 2008.

On Tuesday, Linn County Supervisors opened the bids for the juvenile building.  Juvenile courtrooms and offices were located in the basement of the county courthouse and also lost to flooding in 2008.

Base bids on the project ranged from a low of $4.9-million dollars to a high of $5.5-million.  Supervisor chair Linda Langston said that was slightly above estimates-but not enough to really alter the project.

“We were anticipating about $4.6 to $4.7-million dollars, so, you know, it was close-a little bit over but not so significant that I think it would challenge us in anyway.  So we're still pretty happy, we think we'll be able to get this project for right at about $5-million dollars,” Langston said.

Langston said four companies submitted bids for the county work.  Other major public projects have come in under estimates recently with a very competitive bidding climate.

But Langston said the relatively small size of this project may have prevented contractors from bidding as aggressively.

Kleiman Construction of Cedar Rapids submitted the apparent low bid.  Supervisors will review the bids at the Wednesday formal meeting and may award the contract then.