If local subcontractors aren’t getting a fair shot at work on what soon will be a $58 million Fort Bend County judicial center, “that is one of the questions we’ll demand be addressed,” County Judge Bob Hebert said Thursday.
He was referring to earlier statements by Precinct 1 Commissioner Richard Morrison, who complained that only one Fort Bend County subcontractor was receiving any work in connection with the big project.
But Hebert also said that while he and other Commissioners Court members have an obligation to local craftsmen and contractors, “we have an even greater obligation to serve the taxpayers.”
And the county judge said the taxpayers are being well-served due to the fact the courts complex probably will be built for $58 million, while original estimates of the cost of the project were about $74 million. Construction costs have dropped in the face of a national recession, and Fort Bend apparently is benefiting as a result. In addition to $58 million for the judicial center, being built across from the county jail on Williams Way in Richmond, the county is paying about $3 million for a parking garage at the same site.
The county judge said his understanding is that, under state law, if a local subcontractor submits a bid of within 2% or 3% of the low bid, the local subcontractor has to be hired for the work. He also said that underutilized large contractors may be submitting lower bids than they otherwise would, in order to keep their crews working.
“They didn’t hire me to run a jobs program,” Hebert said, adding that his first priority is to see that all possible reductions in construction costs are found and “that savings comes back to the taxpayers.”
Morrison said earlier Thursday that Houston contractor JE Dunn will spend the bulk of $58 million with subcontracts. But after looking at the general contractor’s two-page list, only one Fort Bend subcontractor was included, doing $5,950 of soil treatment work.
“I understand we’re not going to supply everything, and we may not have the industry that can do it all, but I know we can do some of it,” Morrison said. “More than $5,950.”
Hebert said JE Dunn’s final contract proposal, including its use of subcontractors, still has to be approved in Commissioners Court. “Those questions will be asked Tuesday.”
