by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
It may be now or never for the much-maligned new County Courthouse.
Monday, courthouse consultant Sam Mousa told the City Council Finance Committee that he has examined the Better Jacksonville Plan project thoroughly and has determined it could be built for $395.3 million. However, Mousa is confident that if Council approves the project and construction gets underway shortly after the first of the year, the project could include both criminal and civil components and may come in at $350 million.
Mousa based his analysis on several things including new, streamlined construction processes that could prove less expensive, a construction environment in which contractors need work badly and may bid lower on projects than they would have five years ago and his assessment that it’s wasteful to spend any more money on the current, crumbling facility.
“It’s an old, tired building that’s beyond repair,” said Mousa, who has 32 years in the engineering industry, spilt evenly between the private and public sector.
Mousa is an executive vice president at J.B. Coxwell Contracting, but a few weeks ago he was tabbed by Mayor John Peyton to oversee the project. At the time, Mousa said he would pore over every document and every dollar spent thus far on the once $190 million project and determine whether it can be built for a reasonable price or scrapped. Monday, Mousa said he believes it can be built for a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $350 million. The Finance Committee approved an amended ordinance that will now go before the public next Tuesday night during the April 8 regular Council meeting.
At this point in time, Mousa said the current facility – which was built in 1958 – has served its purpose. However, it has become a money pit and needs to be replaced.
“We have gotten our money’s worth, but it is not right to spend more money,” said Mousa, adding the courthouse is the last of the 23 vertical projects that has yet to be completed. That fact is compounded by a state law that requires municipalities to provide an adequate public courthouse.
“Our existing courthouse is simply not adequate.”
Council President Daniel Davis is not a member of the Finance Committee and opposed the previous $395.3 million price tag. However, Davis said he spent hours talking with Mousa and is now convinced the cost is manageable considering all of the variables that must be taken into consideration.
“Since Friday, we have gone round and round. No matter how you slice this pie, it’s ugly,” said Davis, reiterating Mousa’s earlier point that courthouses simply aren’t glamorous to build because, like jails, not much good takes place in them. “I believe it is a duty of ours to make this decision. Either fish, or cut bait. I voted against it last time and I intended to vote against it this time. After significant discussions with Mr. Mousa, the $350 million is much more palatable. We should have moved forward on this a long time ago.
“The current courthouse is grossly inadequate and it’s not fair to put this on who’s next. I have faith in Sam. He has delivered before and he will deliver again.”
Committee member Kevin Hyde said the general public’s perception that the price was rising for a single building may have facilitated the project’s opposition. According to Mousa, the project always was a multi-building courthouse that also incorporates the old Federal Courthouse (which will be retrofitted for the State Attorney’s Office) and the Ed Ball Building (which will house the Public Defender’s Office). Overall, Mousa said the courthouse will be much more of a “campus” than a single facility.
Committee member Denise Lee debated with Mousa over how the original $190 million price tag had gotten inflated to the nearly $400 million rejected by Council. In a sometimes testy exchange, Mousa finally agreed to create a simple time line that shows how and why the project got delayed for so many years and why the costs have soared.
Lee’s contention is the voters have been kept out of the loop, information-wise.
“I am saying a poor job in terms of public relations was done,” said Lee, adding she would have liked several town hall meetings to discuss the project. “There’s time to go to the voters.”
Mousa said once the Council approves the legislation, within six months he will have 50-60 percent of the design plans. At that point, he will be able to determine a near exact GMP.
“There is 30-36 months on construction time. In mid 2011, the courthouse could be completed,” said Mousa, who added the project will be a true economic stimulus for the Jacksonville construction industry and will provide a much needed boost to the LaVilla area of Downtown.
Davis, who is entering his last three months as Council president, agreed with Mousa that several factors indicate the project should get started much sooner than later.
“Now is the time,” said Davis.