County Selects Hutton as Construction Manager for Health Department Renovation

The Saline County Commission voted to select Hutton as the construction manager at risk for the renovation of the Prescott Avenue property, the future site of the county Health Department, approving RFA 2026-92.

Health Department Director Jason Tiller said a request for qualifications was released June 8 and that three firms — Hutton, Wiens & Company, and Cerris Builders — submitted proposals. A committee scored the proposals and Hutton had the highest average score. Tiller said the committee cited Hutton's team experience, its record on phased construction within occupied facilities, its cost estimating ability, and its experience with county government and public sector projects. He noted that under the RFQ, fee proposals from firms other than the selected one were returned unopened.

Tiller said Hutton's proposal included no fee for pre-construction services and a tiered construction manager fee for the construction phase, because the project does not yet have a defined scope. He said the firm estimated general conditions at approximately $32,480 per month, with the final amount depending on the overall scope and duration. Fees would be paid from the Health Department capital improvement fund, which he said has a balance of $646,411.

Commissioners emphasized that the vote awards only the construction management role and does not approve construction costs, which would return to the commission with a guaranteed maximum price. One commissioner said the county agreed to purchase the building for $2.5 million and that it had previously been set up as a medical clinic, and expressed a desire to avoid the project ballooning in cost. A commissioner said early estimates for a smaller new facility had neared $9 million and argued that the Prescott property offered a better opportunity. Officials said construction is not expected to begin until the building is vacated in late 2027. Tiller said officials are still determining which other county departments may co-locate in the building, which could affect the project scope. The commission approved the selection.