The already pleasant work conditions a select group of county employees are experiencing will become even nicer and safer pursuant to a vote of the board of supervisors at their meeting next week.
On Tuesday, February 12, the board is scheduled to approve upping the amount of money being spent on the remodeling of the sheriff’s department’s Colorado River Station in Needles from $10,071,989 to $10,361,650.
The increase in the contract amount by $289,661 will cover a third amendment and a sixth change order to the county’s contract with Angeles Contractor, Inc., which on August 22, 2023 was warded a $9,115,000 construction contract after an open bid process that had been called for by the board of supervisors, which then invited proposals/bids from construction companies with the experience and expertise to perform public improvements of the type being requested within a construction contract term of 393 days. Three companies made bids and Angeles Contractor, Inc. was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for the construction contract term of 393 days.
After the three sealed bids submitted by the May 3, 2013 deadline were opened, it was learned that Angeles pledged to complete the sought-after work for $9,115,000.
The Sheriff’s Colorado River Station was built in 1974 and was previously co-manned by the Needles Municipal Police Department, which in 1989 was dissolved, its function taken over by the sheriff’s department, pursuant to a contract between the City of Needles and the sheriff’s department/San Bernardino County.
According to a report to the board of supervisors co-authored by Sheriff Shannon Dicus and San Bernardino County Project and Facilities Management Department Director Don Day, the sheriff’s department’s Colorado River Station “requires a remodel to address its outdated design, accommodate increased staffing needs, and modernize the facility. Despite minor updates since 1989, the station and adjacent county-occupied building, totaling 9,678 square feet (sq. ft.), are inefficient. The remodel will enhance operational efficiency through upgrades to mechanical systems, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the integration of innovative technologies and utilities. This includes the installation of advanced door and intercom controls, as well as surveillance cameras.”
On April 23, 2024, the board of supervisors approved the project’s Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $373,654 for lead abatement, solar carport costs, ceramic heaters, and program logic controller updates, thereby increasing the contract from $9,115,000 to $9,488,654 with no impact to the construction schedule.
On July 9, 2024, the board approved Amendment No. 1 for $133,119 and Change Order No. 2 for $142,643, totaling $275,762, adjustments which provided for new site utility drawings, addressed power issues, installed water heaters, repaired concrete slabs, and completed various other modifications. These changes increased the contract from $9,488,654 to $9,764,416.
On September 10, 2024, the board approved Change Order No. 3 with Angeles, in the amount of $112,039, for roof drain repairs, new water heaters, a concrete masonry unit, wall modifications, and additional electrical services. Change Order 3 increased the contract from $9,764,416 to $9,876,455.
On September 24, 2024, the board approved Change Order No. 4 with Angeles, in the amount of $62,907 for the procurement, and installation of four Portacool evaporative coolers, drum fans, and extension cords, removal of overhead plumbing pipes to create a new ceiling opening in the multipurpose room, the rerouting of plumbing lines to feed the Needles City Council’s chambers areas, installation of new pathways for the Human Machine Interface control system, along with new card readers for doors and exterior gates. Change Order 4 increased the contract from $9,876,455 to $9,939,362.
On November 19, 2024, the board approved Amendment No. 2 for $123,779 and Change Order No. 5 with Angeles in the amount of $8,848 for grout injections of 60 hollow block cells to address structural integrity concerns, procurement and installation of thermal roof insulation, furnishing and installation of a new conduit in the sally port and breezeway, additional fees necessary for City of Needles and San Bernardino Fire Protection District permits for the installation of a solar carport, providing three new ceiling access panels, additional electrical connections for plumbing fixtures and procurement and installation of T-bar ceiling acoustical insulation to meet current code requirements and for various finish changes to the flooring, acoustic ceiling and corridor paint, along with credit for the removal of a window in the administrative sergeant’s office.
Next week, approval of Amendment No. 3 to the construction contract will compensate Angeles in the amount of $289,661 attributable to the requirement for additional work that was not accounted for in the original bid documents. Amendment No. 3 encompasses the balance of City of Needles permit fees necessary to install a solar carport; relocation of an existing electrical junction box and rigid conduit due to a conflict with a doorway and new sewer line; tie-in of a new underground fire water line with the city water line; interception of the underground conduits and stub up to connect to a new electrical panel; furnishing the intermediate distribution frame room with a temporary door, door hardware, heating, ventilation and air conditioning temperature cooling units, and temporary power in advance of a permanent distribution frame room; construction of 2-hour fire rated walls for separation of the city council chamber room and jail per requirements of the county fire marshal; installation of total filler blocking for ceiling wire in 485 locations; addition of electrical outlets and data ports in the station’s report writing room; and additional permit fees for the fire alarm and overhead fire sprinkler systems.
Approval of Change Order No. 6 will compensate Angeles in the amount of $29,965 for necessary additional work not included in the original bid documents for various changes including adding can lights in the supply storage room, reconstructing wall frames to enlarge an interview room to include installing two new fire sprinkler heads and relocating one fire sprinkler head, additional electrical work for switchable glass, and changes for electrical, soffit and fire sprinkler changes in the multipurpose room.
While some of the sheriff’s personnel do not covet being assigned to Needles because it is located off the beaten track and away from the county’s more populated areas and larger cities where they have established home with their spouses and children, working in Needles as a sheriff’s deputy is considered by many to be a plum job, since patrolling the Colorado River is akin, in many ways, to being on vacation.