Roman Forest approves contractor for police department expansion project

Roman Forest City Council members approved a roughly $265,000 bid from construction company Satellite Shelters to complete work on the city’s police department expansion project.

The details

City Engineer Greg Phipps briefed council members on the project during the council’s May 27 meeting.

Phipps said the project will entail the construction of two modular buildings totaling 3,360 square feet that would be built outside the existing police department.

Phipps noted the bid included a refurbished option totaling $264,806 and a new-build option totaling $361,535. Council members ultimately approved the refurbished option.

Some context

According to previous reporting, officials said around half of the existing police department will be converted into additional space for City Hall once the expansion is completed.

The approved bid marks the city’s second attempt to secure a contractor for the project.

During the council’s Feb. 23 meeting, Phipps said the city received several bids to complete work on the project after council members authorized city officials to begin the bidding process in December.

However, after reviewing the bids, Phipps said council members determined they needed to review the scope of the project after they were unable to come to an agreement with any of the contractors who bid on the project.

What’s next

Police Chief Stephen Carlisle said the city sent a floor plan to Satellite Shelters to make sure they can complete the project as needed, noting construction will move forward once the plan is approved.

Carlisle said the building should be in place around the end of August and is expected to be operational a few months after it’s constructed.