2 weeks Ago By GENE ZALESKI T&D Staff Writer
The construction bidding process for the new Orangeburg County Courthouse will begin in March and April of 2025, according to the construction management company the county hired to oversee the project. The Cumming Group is meeting with the construction architectural team, reviewing the project's budget and developing a cash flow and management schedule, Executive Vice President Jeff Holstein said. “We will make sure it gets done on time, within your budget and the level of quality you expect,” Holstein told Orangeburg County Council's Finance Committee last week.
Holstein said a rough draft of the general contractor prequalification package has been created. He explained the prequalification bid will seek to discover the experience each general contractor has in building courthouses or similar projects. A list of small local businesses that could be tapped to serve as subcontractors for the construction project will also be provided the general contractors.
Holstein said the project and bid opportunities will be well advertised through various media and online outlets. The estimated cost of the courthouse construction project is about $38 million. The county plans to pay for the project through an installment revenue purchase bond.
County officials say the method should allow it to pay for the courthouse without a tax increase by using fee-in-lieu of taxes revenue from industries. Construction on the courthouse is expected to begin by the end of 2025. The Cumming Group was hired in August to serve as a consultant on the courthouse construction project.
SSOE Group is the design and management company for the project. The current Amelia Street courthouse was built in 1928 and officials say it’s past its useful life. It’s also too small, with one large courtroom and several smaller ones.
Orangeburg County’s courthouse needs at least six large courtrooms, officials say. The county has purchased 5.5 acres on Russell Street for the courthouse.
Contact the writer: [email protected] or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.
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