The Jackson County Board of Commissioners agreed Monday to extend a contract with BM&K, the company owned by Don Clerici that provides engineering and construction management services to the county, through 2011.
Commissioner Dwain Smith had asked earlier for a study on the cost of providing these services with the firm or handling it with county staff.
Smith said the county could hire two engineers, as well as support staff, for $425,000. Last year, the county paid $1.2 million to BM&K.
“Our consultant does good work,” Smith said. “But we are relying too much on him from the first shovel of dirt to the last end. Our people should know a little about what is going on…Every time something comes up, it’s just more, more, more. I think we can do better (financially).”
Commissioner Hunter Bicknell said, “If you don’t have the right kind of professional oversight, you are opening yourself up for possible over costs, beyond what you are paying the consultant for.”
Smith added, “I am going to stay on top of this. This isn’t going to be the last you are going to here from me about this…I’m not saying we don’t need a consultant. We are just carrying it too far. Some of this stuff can be done in-house…I am just trying to look out for the taxpayer’s money because it’s my money too.”
Commissioner Tom Crow said, “I have looked at some of this stuff. I have the utmost confidence that it was all done properly.”
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