Jasper County puts law enforcement training center project out for bid

Jasper County is soliciting bids for its law enforcement training center project.

The board of supervisors approved the construction plan for the facility during its Dec. 23 meeting. Maintenance Director Adam Sparks presented the plan, which he noted would be issued for bid on Jan. 8, 2026. The actual bid opening will be Feb. 10 or Feb. 17 during the supervisors meeting.

According to the construction documents prepared by BBS Architects Engineers, the total probable cost is estimated around $588,649. Sparks noted that additional costs increase that amount to around $624,995 for parking lot pole lights and a fire alarm panel system with a generator connection attachment.

However, the county was moving forward with the base costs of the project and excluded the additional features. Supervisor Brandon Talsma confirmed the bid opening would take place in the board chambers during an open meeting, just like what had been done in the past for various projects covered by BBS.

County officials indicated the probable construction costs were higher than anticipated. They still hoped bids would be low.

“We’re still a little higher than money we had set aside, but just really never know what that true dollar amount’s going to be until it goes out for bid and comes back,” Sparks said. “It’s just an estimated amount. It does have all the contingency money there at 5 percent. So it does have some room in there.”

The law enforcement training center will be located in the former Jasper County Animal Rescue League building, which is owned by the county. The proposal from sheriff’s office staff two years ago indicated the building would be renovated into a year-round facility devoted to interior and exterior trainings.

Since then the sheriff’s office has added a gun range to the facility. Staff also proposed the facility would be used for training courses with other departments and outside instructors. Back then it was proposed that agencies would be able to conduct vehicle extractions, full-gear room clearing and breaching on-site.