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Highlands Today

Sheriff Proceeds With New Building Plan

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: July 24, 2008

SEBRING - Whether a new $11.1 million law enforcement building is constructed may be an election year issue for Sheriff Susan Benton, but a county committee is proceeding with their plans anyway.
County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete, who chaired the meeting, informed the 20 people in the room of the timeline.

"Sometime in September, we'll advertise for bids," Gavarrete said. "In December, the contract will be awarded. In January, the construction starts."

Benton thinks her department could move from the current building on Fernleaf, behind the county courthouse, to the new building on George Boulevard by 2010.

"I want to reserve the right to push back the bid date if the board of county commissioners wants to look at local contractors," said Michael Wright. The sheriff agreed with that. On May 28, she issued a memo preferring local vendors and subcontractors.

"That's OK," said Susan Gantt, an associate with Architects Design Group Inc., a Winter Park group that specializes in public buildings and public safety facilities. "We won't lose time if the bids are opened in November or December."

Contractors don't usually want to start to work until after the holidays anyway, she said.

Gavarrete said he'll talk with 4-H and the master gardeners, to see if they'll get involved with landscaping the building.

"And I have labor," Benton offered with a smile. Prison labor.

Gantt asked the sheriff's information technology and 911 radio staff to provide information about the heat by the Motorola radio and the computer servers, and to ascertain how much power they draw.

"That's important," Gavarrete warned them. After buildings are constructed or remodeled, the first complaint from workers is always that they're too hot or cold.

Gantt pointed out design features: a portion of the front is covered with insulated glazing. It lets in light to reduce power costs, but it's bullet resistant.

"That shows why it's hard to convert another building," said Highlands County Administrator Michael Wright. "People don't realize it's got a lot of special stuff in it. It pulls some pretty heavy electrical loads. And we already own the dirt."

The building would be located on George Boulevard, behind the Agri-Civic Center. It would have no skylights, which are a security risk, can shatter during hurricanes, and create more heat, said Gantt.

The building will be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Chief of Staff Lisa Burley pointed out, so materials are selected for a higher level of wearability.

In the center of the engineering room, Det. Stacy Andrews leaned over the table with Edmond Gantt to look over the laboratory plans for the Crime Scene Investigation crew.

"Where are the eye wash stations?" Andrews asked.

And he asked for water to come to every lab workstation, even if it's stubbed off and faucets are added later.

"You never know what's going to happen in a lab," he said.

Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863 386-5828

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