GROVETON – Construction work on the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton could begin later this month after Trinity County Commissioners selected a contractor during a special meeting last week.
J.C. Stoddard Construction Co. of San Antonio was named as both the low and best bidder by commissioners when they approved a $4.7 million proposal for the massive renovation of the courthouse.
“We’re very excited. We got some very good bids for the project and most were for a lot less than we expected,” Trinity County Judge Mark Evans said following last week’s meeting.
Evans noted that the highest bid submitted for the work was $5.8 million from a Dallas-based company.
The county is working within about a $6.5 million budget for the project and while Stoddard’s winning bid does not include expenses such as architectural and engineer fees, Evans said it was well within the county’s spending plan.
Most of the money in the county’s budget -- $5 million – comes from a Courthouse Preservation Grant from the Texas Historical Commission. The remaining matching funds were obtained locally through the sale of certificates of obligation to be repaid over the next 15 years.
Evans noted six Texas companies submitted bids for the renovation work and all were fairly strong proposals.
The county’s building committee felt that two of the bidders stood out. In addition to Stoddard, the firm of Jamail & Smith Construction of Houston also submitted a very competitive proposal at $4.9 million.
Officials from both companies were interviewed by the committee, which scored their bids before recommending the Stoddard bid to commissioners.
County Auditor Sheila Johnson, a member of the building committee, noted that both companies had extensive experience in completing similar projects but that overall, Stoddard scored higher when the bids were compared.
Using a points system developed by Architect Michael Gaertner, Johnson said Stoddard received 81 points compared to Jamail & Smith’s 64.
The scoring system was based on the overall bid price as well as the experience of the contractor, project manager, project superintendent and subcontractors.
“Mr. Gaertner had actually worked with Jamail & Smith before so he knew they did quality work. While he hasn’t worked with Stoddard previously, they received some very strong recommendations from other counties where they have worked,” Johnson said.
Johnson noted that Stoddard had the most experience with projects similar to the courthouse renovation having completed six with four more in progress.
The company also previously worked on courthouse restorations in Mills, Menard, Bandera, Dimmit and La Salle counties.
Evans noted on Monday that the county has all but completed their move out of the courthouse into their temporary offices located south of the Trinity County Jail across Highway 287 from the courthouse square.
“We still have some files to move out of the courthouse, but for all practical purposes were are out of the courthouse and its ready for the contractor,” the judge said.
The last official function that will take place in the courthouse before the renovation will be the April meeting of the county commissioners. That meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Monday on the second floor of the courthouse.
At that meeting, the contract with Stoddard is expected to be formally approved and signed.
Evans noted the bid calls for the work to be completed within 14 months and noted that demolition work could get underway before the end of April.
“One of the things that Mr. Stoddard brings to this process  -- something which really impressed the building committee -- was his passion for this type of work. He has a great deal of experience in courthouse renovations and it is something that he enjoys and takes pride is doing well,” Evans said.
Included in the project will be a complete restoration of the courthouse’s exterior to return it to its look when it was completed in 1914.
Also included in the work will be the installation of an elevator, new plumbing and electrical systems, central air conditioning and heating, a handicapped accessible restroom and Internet and telephone system wiring.
The second floor district courtroom and hallways also will be returned to their 1914 look and offices, though modernized to be functional in the 21st century, also will be renovated to give then a 1914 appearance.