KINGMAN – Mesa-based Concord General Contracting will build a new Legal Services Center for Mohave County in downtown Kingman. The firm was awarded a construction bid totaling $14.1-million during Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
The facility will be constructed at 415 Pine St., in the vacant space created by the demolition of the old county jail behind the Law and Justice Center.
“It is a two-story building that consists of just under 39,000 square feet,” County Manager Sam Elters said. “It will house six county departments consisting of the county attorney’s office, primarily the prosecution side, Legal Defender, Public Defender, Legal Advocate, Indigent Services and Victim Witness.”
Elters said the Legal Defender and Victim Witness buildings will be demolished to create parking space. He said three buildings that would be vacated have value and will be sold to generate revenue for the general fund.
Elters said savings associated with the new facility will be realized because the older buildings to be vacated are more expensive to maintain. County attorney Matt Smith looks forward to new space in place of his office.
“It’s very dilapidated. There are ceiling tiles that fall down from time to time, roof repairs that have needed to be done over the years,” Smith said. “The bathrooms are horrific and the biggest problem is the lack of space.”
Smith said working conditions are even worse in the office of the Legal and Public Defender.
Supervisors Ron Gould and Buster Johnson cited cost related concerns in dissenting in the 3-2 contract awarding vote.
In other board business:
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Supervisors decided to continue the County’s month to month contract with the Serenity Memorial Group while directing staff to work to bring the Medical Examiner Services in house and determine a location to house the operation.
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Supervisors awarded an $8,000 month-to-month contract to HighGround, Inc., a lobbying firm, to continue representing Mohave County on water related issues.
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Supervisors awarded Elters a pay raise, increasing his annual salary of $192,000 by 5%.
Dave Hawkins
