By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Ellis County is preparing its law enforcement center for renovation after the Hays Police Department vacates its portion of the building later this year.
The Ellis County Commission approved bids and purchase orders for the renovation during its Tuesday meeting. Renovations are expected to begin this summer and be completed by mid-2027.
Planned changes include converting the former police reception area into a training room, creating bonding rooms for inmates and adding a secure meeting room for High Plains Mental Health Center staff and children involved in incidents.
The basement will also undergo minor renovations to move the Ellis County 911 dispatch center into a larger room, which is currently used as a training room.
SEE RELATED STORY: City commission approves $5.9 million contract for Hays police/court facility
A bid for the renovation of the law enforcement center was awarded to PWC for about $1.839 million. Ellis County Administrator Darin Myers said PWC partners with Tessere of Wichita for design services and has experience with public safety facilities, such as the Wichita Police Department and the Great Bend Police Department.
Tessere has also completed design work in Ellis County on the Bob & Pat Schmidt Community Center and the Ellis County Public Works building.
Myers said the $1.839 million contract with PWC is less than the design-build budget. The bid includes several alternates to the base bid, including HVAC improvements in the facility, removing a wall in the new dispatch office and a 5% contingency for the project.
"If we don't spend a dime of the contingency, PWC doesn't get to keep that," Myers said. "If we don't use any contingency and there's no change orders, which would be excellent, you could take that $1.839 million minus $60,000."
Outside of the design-build budget, several other projects are planned for the renovation. These include:
• A plumbing contractor to work on sewer lines underneath the building
• Expanding the security camera system
• Moving the 911 dispatch center
• New dispatch consoles and desks
• A walk-in refrigerator and freezer for jail food storage
Myers said a request for proposals has been issued for the jail control system. Once the project is completed, additional furniture and equipment will need to be purchased.
The overall renovation cost is $2.489 million, which is less than the budget by about $496,435.
Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun and Ellis County Communications Director Jeff Ridgway spoke about their departments' involvement in the renovation.
Commissioner Neal Younger said he is concerned about the level of detention center staffing. He asked if the Hays Police Department could assist at the detention center.
Braun said, "I don't think we can expect them to do so. If they do, we're definitely excited to have their help. I will come back to ask for at least two additional detention officers at some point as we proceed forward with this."