Teller windows to be installed at Finance Department

CHENEY — City Hall visitors may soon find themselves navigating some construction work at the city’s Finance Department.

At their Nov. 10 meeting, the City Council approved a $75,500 request from the Light Department to pay Big Timber Contractors, LLC to build a new wall that includes three teller stations, along with new work stations and counters on either side of the windows. The work will replace the existing windows, door and conference room with a more secure structure that also includes two additional windows between the teller stations.

The project also includes a new, fire-rated door between the foyer and the department along with roll down fire doors for each teller station that automatically deploy in the case of a fire. Those stations will be equipped with battery-operated speakers in the windows and pass through trays for customer-teller transactions – allowing customers to remain the foyer and complete transactions with tellers behind the windows.

“The driving force behind this project is the safety of our staff and our customers, just trying to have adequate separation,” Light Department Director Steve Marx said.

The project must also be ADA complaint, ensuring appropriate counter height. It also requires an upgrade to the HVAC system in the foyer since customers will now be doing their transactions in that room – work that requires what Marx referred to as “mini-splits.” According to the scope of work, two, three-ton, 36,000 btu min-splits units that provide heating and cooling control in individual rooms or spaces will be required.

Marx said these units will be provided by the city at a cost estimated at around $10,000. The city is also to provide the roll-down teller doors, at an estimated price of $24,000.

“So the city has about a $34,000 price tag on materials that we’ll put into this project,” he added.

City-provided materials and Big Timber’s big of $64,630 brings the project’s total cost to $98,630. Marx said even with adding in sales tax and a 7% contingency factor for unforeseen circumstances, the project cost was still below the threshold that would have required the city to seek competitive bids. Big Timber was the only contractor to provide an estimate on the work, which is the scope of the resolution passed by the council.

“We hit about $115,000 total on this project,” Marx said. “In public works projects, if you’re below $116,000 you do not have to go out to bid.”

Funding for the project comes from money the city received from the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress in April. The city was eligible to receive $372,300 in CARES funding, which can be used for COVID-19-related expenses.

Marx said Big Timber’s portion of the work could begin as soon as the contract was executed. The roll-down doors have about a six-week lead time from when ordered, and will be the biggest delay in getting the work done quickly.

“I expect to be finished sometime in January,” Marx said.

Marx praised Public Works Director Todd Ableman and building inspector Terry Mourning for their assistance in the project, along with Councilman Vince Barthels. Mourning, who is also an architect, provided “sole source” design work for the project.

“My hats off to him,” Marx said. “He’s a very skilled man and we’re very thankful to have him there.”

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].