MILTON — Updated design work on a new judicial center in Santa Rosa County could start soon.
Santa Rosa County Commissioners discussed approving a new $262,000 agreement with HOK Inc. for the design of a new judicial center at their Monday committee meeting.
HOK’s work will feature architectural plans, some structural and engineering designs, traffic studies and a usage plan for the proposed building.
“The citizens of Santa Rosa County don’t want what they’ve termed a Taj Mahal,” said Commissioner Bob Cole. “We want a cost-effective but good, sound, solid structure in a good location that people can agree on as far as convenience of access.”
County commissioners will vote on the agreement at their Thursday meeting. The board has discussed building a new judicial center to replace the 87-year-old courthouse off and on for the past 13 years with HOK.
The new agreement will allow HOK to start the preliminary needs assessments while commissioners move forward with finding a location for a new judicial center.
“I like this approach,” Commissioner Lane Lynchard said. “Given the accelerated nature of the timetable we’re working with, if we want to have this on the ballot next year, the more information we can get upfront and the harder our numbers can be, then the better chance of success that we’ll have.”
The bulk of HOK’s agreement will cover the architectural, structural and mechanical designs, among other projects. It also includes about $50,000 in allowances for extra work that are not required to complete the project, such as having HOK representatives meet with the public at workshops and completing renderings for the media.
County Administrator Hunter Walker said the commission likely would discuss selecting a location for the judicial center later this month and narrow the search to a specific site at a later time.
Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.