Port St. Lucie ready to spend $16 million for new Public Works Department building

Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·2 min read
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PORT ST. LUCIE — The city is poised to spend up to $16 million for a new Public Works Department building.

The City Council plans to consider the project at its 1 p.m. Monday meeting. It's listed on the consent agenda, meaning the vote would be held without discussion and without public comment.

It could, however, be pulled from that list during the meeting for full discussion.

Top recommendation to the City Council

Following a two-stage review process, the $15,996,345 bid from Delray Beach-based Kaufman Lynn Construction was recommended to the council.

Kaufman Lynn outscored two other bidders in the second round, despite another company's bid coming in about $4.5 million lower, according to city records. Paul Jacquin & Sons, of Fort Pierce, bid $11,471,135. The bid of Charles Perry Partners, of Gainesville, was the highest at $21,733,457, according to records.

Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin (center) along with Councilman Dave Pickett (left) and Coundilman Anthony Bonna are seen during a Port St. Lucie City Council meeting with on Monday, July 25, 2022, in the council chambers Port St. Lucie.
Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin (center) along with Councilman Dave Pickett (left) and Coundilman Anthony Bonna are seen during a Port St. Lucie City Council meeting with on Monday, July 25, 2022, in the council chambers Port St. Lucie.

On the three criteria reviewed by the city's evaluation committee — design-build team organization management, project understanding and approach of the project and project schedule — Kaufman Lynn scored the highest with 200 points, according to the city. Charles Perry received 189 points; and Paul Jacquin received 169 points. With projected cost included, scores were Kaufman, 264.53; Paul Jacquin, 259; and Charles Perry, 236.49.

New building would replace shuttered facilities

The 29,782-square-foot Public Works facility would be located within the existing complex on Thornhill Drive and Bayshore Boulevard and would replace several existing structures that have been closed for years due to mold. Target completion date for the new facility would be Aug. 7, 2025.

There also are plans to eventually construct a new warehouse and maintenance facility to replace other shuttered buildings at the complex.

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The council had planned to take up the contract at its Dec. 11 meeting, but postponed a vote due to unspecified issues.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com and 504-331-0516.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Why PSL is building a new 30,000 square-foot Public Works building