Albion out of Sandy Springs, Georgia, received unanimous approval from the Fannin County Board of Commissioners to be the Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) for the new Fannin County Public Library.
The county’s Library Task Force recommended Albion’s bid of $442,450, which commissioners Chairman Jamie Hensley, Johnny Scearce and Glenn Patterson accepted at their regular meeting Tuesday, July 23.
In accepting the bid, Hensley described the eight member task force as, “A good cross section” of local individuals.
Patterson, one of the task force members, said Albion presented well when four bidders for the contract were interviewed by the task force, had good experience, and “it was the lowest bid.”
Sherri Walker, another task force member, said Albion was chosen from a scoring system members used.
However, the vote to choose Albion was not unanimous.
Bids were submitted based on a construction budget of $3.5 million. A review of the figures, based on a $4 million budget, indicates $3,177,550 is available to build the library. That figure results when Albion’s $442,450 and the architects contract of $380,000 is subtracted from the $4 million. There are also some other, smaller fees that will have to be subtracted, such as the fee for the original library drawing.
Hensley has stressed many times that $4 million is the all-in amount. That includes state monies totaling $2.6 million, county matching funds of $1.3, and another $100,000 to be provided by the county.
The commissioners gave their approval pending a review of the contract with Albion by County Attorney Lynn Doss, which the commission wants completed by August 2.
If the deal is approved, Albion and the architect, TSW, can begin working together. It is Albion’s responsibility to secure the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) to build the library.