Mon Commission awards health department renovation project
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MORGANTOWN - The Monongalia County Commission has awarded the renovation project that will transform White Birch Tower II into the home of the Monongalia County Health Department to Lombardi Development Company.
The Follansbee-based contractor was the lowest of five bidders on the project with an offer of $7,150,000.
Commissioner Sean Sikora explained how the project will unfold given the tight July 1, 2027 deadline for the MCDH to be off of its current property, which was sold to WVU Hospitals for $6 million.
"The substantial completion date is June 1, 2027. On that date they have to achieve a certificate of occupancy for the fifth floor, clinical and dentistry; the second-floor entrance and lobby, and the receptionist area and environmental (health) cashier," he said. "Then the second substantial completion date is Aug. 2, 2027. That's when they would need to achieve a certificate of occupancy for the remainder of the second floor, third floor, fourth floor, and garage."
Despite the staggered completion dates, Sikora said this timeline will get the health department out of its current space on time.
"What this means, and the way we've broken this up because it is such a tight deadline, the first substantial completion date will allow the staff that need to be [on-site] to function, to interact with the public. That will allow them time to move into that building by July 1, 2027. And then for the other half of the building that we'll still be working on, those employees will be working remotely until the rest of the building is finished. That's stated to be Aug. 1, 2027."
To emphasize the need to hit those deadlines, Sikora said the contract includes liquidated damages including a $2,000 per day penalty if final completion is not achieved within 15 days of substantial completion.