Zrinski Announces that New Parking Deck Construction to Start in October

At last week's NorCo Council meeting, Executive Tara Zrinski announced that work on a new parking deck for the courthouse campus will begin in October. This work was supposed to have started in July, but had to be postponed because the bidder failed to comply with the county's responsible contractor ordinance. 

This is a good time to consider a bus, bicycle or one of those dreaded e-bikes savaged on the season opener of South Park America. 

Parking Garage Project Delayed Because Successful Bidder Fails to Comply with Responsible Contractor Ordinance

On May 21, Northampton County Council approved an $11,525,000 contract with the Mohawk Group to serve as the General Contractor for the replacement of the parking deck at the courthouse complex. Work should have been underway by now, but nothing was happening. Why not?

At last night's meeting of NorCo Council, Executive Tara Zrinski explained that Mohawk failed to provide the necessary documentation to prove that it was complying with the county's responsible contractor ordinance. As a result, the county was forced to reject the bid and go with the second highest bidder, Wilmer R Schultz, Inc. . 

County Council was forced to amend its agenda to approve a contract with Wilmer R Schultz. Unfortunately, the amount of this contract was unstated. Council Solicitor Matt Deschler advised that amended agenda must be posted online within one business day, so the amount should be available sometime today. 

Zrinski assured County Council that Schultz has the necessary responsible contractor certifications. 

NorCo Council Approves Alternative Parking Arrangements After Some Tough Questions

At their Thursday night meeting, Northampton County Council voted 7-0 (Ken Kraft and Dave Holland were absent) to approve a $1,250 per month license agreement with Shiloh Baptist Church for 150 parking spaces during the 18 months it will take to raze and build a new parking deck at the courthouse campus. This parking deck is on Easton's south side, so a shuttle will also be needed to ferry employees and jurors from there to the courthouse. They did so after some tough questions from Council member Nadeem Qayyum. 

Public Works Director Mike Emili told Qayyum that the monthly rate was based on what the county had paid to St. Anthony's in the past for parking at their lot, which is located just two blocks away. He acknowledged that a lease agreement is being finalized there as well. 

Qayyum wanted to know whether the county explored the possibility of renting out space at Easton's 3rd Street parking deck, which is only about a half mile from the courthouse but all uphill. He indicated the price at Shiloh is 166% higher than getting a permit in Easton. 

Emili said that there is insufficient space at Easton's parking deck, but that deck is pretty much empty during the day. Its use is heaviest in the evening, according to city officials. They will let me know how much space they have available on a daily basis sometime next week. 

Emili said a shuttle would run every 15 minutes between Shiloh and the courthouse. On jury days, a bus will be used. 

Executive Tara Zrinski said, "We are also looking at the work from home policy to modify that to reduce the number of individuals, and we believe that, uh, these two strategies (alternative parking and remote work) together will get the people who need to work on premise here, and the people who can work from home occasionally will be able to do so."

NorCo Has Sold $32 Million in Bonds For Parking Garage, Will Save $5 Million Over Projected Cost of Repayment

At last night's Northampton County Council meeting, Executive Lamont McClure advised the governing body that the county has sold $32 million in tax-exempt bonds for the construction of a new parking deck. He added that because of its favorable bond rating, it was able to sell them at a lower interest rate than was originally estimated. This means the county will save $5 million in bond payments. 

He indicated that engineers have already embarked on taking core samples to see how far they can go before having to move bedrock. He is pressing "full speed ahead" because "I don't want to leave the next executive and the next county council in a position where they're not prepared to move forward when they're ready to move forward. Once you shut that garage down, there'll be a lot of unhappy people, and you'll want to get that thing knocked down and put up as fast as you possibly can." 

How is the NorCo Parking Garage Project at Courthouse Campus Going?

Last April, nearly a year ago, Northampton County Public Works Director Michael Emili and Executive Lamont McClure provided County Council with preliminary plans for a new parking garage and office building at the Easton campus. 

McClure stated that the county has spent millions on its parking garage and "it's still falling apart." It has a useful life of about three years. He said it needs to be replaced as a matter of safety. "I do not want anybody to be injured in there." 

The parking deck was built in 1975 and was estimated to have a service life of 35-40 years. There are 298 parking spots, including the parking lot on Washington Street. Massive repairs to the deck were conducted in 2010, 2016 and 2023. Pieces of concrete are still falling. Emili has brought a few in from time to time to show to Council. He also produced a photo of a county-owned car damaged by falling concrete. In addition, water seeps through joints and cracks, picking up minerals and staining cars parked there. 

The need for a new parking deck has actually become a matter of public safety. Yet because McClure wanted to include a new county building in a bond ordinance, County Council demurred. It was not until February 6 that Council finally approved a $35 million bond to fund a new garage. 

The garage itself costs $21 million, but the bond would also finance the purchase of energy conservation assets as well as a P25 radio system for first responders. Council members John Goffredo and John Brown still opposed the project. "We're cutting a bland check and don't know what we're getting," complained Goffredo. Brown argued that the county could use existing funds without borrowing. 

Public Works Director Emili updated County Council about the project on March 19. 

Emili told Council that the county issued a Request for Proposals for architectural design and project management in mid-February, after the bond was approved. Proposals were received March 18 (10 for architectural and engineering design and 4 for construction management). A selection committee that includes a member of Council will review and rate the proposals. 

Emili stated that the footprint of the new garage will be similar to what exists now, but capacity will increase to about 350. He contemplates that a three-tier structure will remain. 

The county expects to break ground on the new parking deck about a year from now. 

NorCo Council Approves $35 Million Bond Ordinance For New Parking Deck, Radio System

By a 7-2 vote, Northampton County Council voted last night to approve a $35 million bond that would finance a new parking deck at the courthouse campus, a new radio system for first responders, other county projects at the jail and to purchase assets currently under lease. Voting No were Council members John Brown and John Goffredo. The Yes votes came from Council members Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan, Jeff Warren, Jeff Corpora, Lori Vargo Heffner, Ron Heckman and Tom Giovanni. 

Brown complained that no plans were ever presented to Council for the new parking deck even though detailed plans were presented in July and discussed several times. In fact, after those plans were presented, Goffredo insisted he could bring in an expert t show that there was no need for a new parking deck. That never happened, and even Goffredo last night acknowledges that a new parking deck is needed. 

He was still skeptical because a parking deck would cost about $21 million but the bond is for $35 million. "We're cutting a blank check and we don't know what we're getting," he said. Public Works Director Mike Emili said that the county could spend about a half million to get more refined estimates, but any savings would be lost by waiting for the bond. 

Financial Advisor Scott Shearer told Council that $6 million of the $35 million would pay for the purchase of energy conservation assets currently under lease. He added that bonds would not be sold until March or April. The bonds would be repaid over 16 years. 

Council member Jeff Warren produced a picture of a car damaged by falling concrete in the deck. "This is a vehicle. I don't want it to be a family walking into this building. It's a public safety hazard, straight up."

NorCo Council Votes 5-4 Against Bond For New Parking Deck and Office Bldg at Courthouse Campus

At last night's meeting, Northampton County Council voted 5-4 to reject a $63.5 million bond for a new parking deck and 3-story office building at the courthouse campus, as well as a $14 million contingency for other projects that include a new roof at the jail and P-25 radio equipment, costing $6 million. The vote followed presentations made by several cabinet members.

Public Works Director Mike Emili brought a chunk of concrete that recently fell from the parking deck to match another chunk he displayed to County Council a year ago. The parking deck was built in 1975, and is nearing 50 years of service, well beyond its 35–40-year lifespan. In 2008, the county studied the possibility of adding new levels, but engineers determined that it would fail current seismic requirements and that there was a lack of footings at several locations. Over the years, the county has attempted to repair the parking deck, but there are still numerous leaks and falling concrete. 

Emili noted that this falling concrete is particularly bothersome because, while unlikely, csomeone could get killed. 

Emili also addressed the proposed 3-story office building. He noted that the elections office is operating at four different locations. With the new office building, they would have the entire first floor. It would free up space in the Human Services building by moving Community and Economic Development from its current location at Human Services to the new building. It would also free up space for the DA's office, which is "bursting at the seams." 

The parking deck and new building combined would cost a little over $43 million. The county would also use the bond proceeds to refinance the 2021 GESA project (Guaranteed energy savings), leaving $14 million for additional projects that include a $6 million P-25 communications system for first responders as well as jail renovations. 

Administration Director Nicole Pietrzack, who oversees the elections office, called the current layout of the elections office(s) "an absurdity." She noted that 7,000 people voted ballot on demand (sometimes called early voting) in the most recent election, including 1,100 voters in one day. "There were people lining the hallway on either side, two to three people deep, all the way to the end of the hallway and down to the cafeteria. ... For a third-class county, this is just unacceptable." 

Human Services Director Sue Wandalowski brought pictures showing that four conference rooms, two interview rooms, several storage areas and a family visitation room all had to be converted to office space.

Council member John Goffredo was unmoved by these arguments. He suggested that the county add a level to the Human Services Building. When this is prohibited by zoning, he suggested seeking a variance. "We are going to build a palace for an exorbitant sum of money," he warned. He also complained that County Council was never informed of any need. "All of a sudden this came to us  .... We'll be called obstructionists of we don't go along with this."  He called the proposed three-story office building a "mega-office."  He argued there is no need to build a new county building because office space is in high supply and low demand. 

Council member John Brown echoed Goffredo. He said thousands of sq ft of office space is available throughout Easton, and that the county could lease for far less money than would be spent on a new building. "We don't need $64 million for a parking deck " he said and expressed wariness about a $14 million contingency "We could do it for far less money. ... I don't see this as an emergency that we have to run out tomorrow."

Council member Ron Heckman supported the bond. "No one wants to do a bond issue, but it's about what's in the best interests of the county. ... I don't see any way around this."  He also said, "I like the idea, if possible, of keeping our county functions in our county seat." The law requires that the elections office must be in Easton. 

Of the parking deck, Heckman said "I think they made it with play dough." 

Council member Ken Kraft failed to use his mike during his supporting argument, so I missed most of what he said. I do know he pissed off Goffredo, who claimed that he had been insulted.  One argument that I did catch, once he started using his mike, is that bond yields are surging following Trump's re-election. This is going to make mortgage rates higher and will also make it more expensive for government to borrow with each passing day. 

Council President Lori Vargo Heffner and Council member Jeff Corpora both said they have no problem with building a parking garage. But they both said they'd like to hear more details on options about building the garage but delaying the county office building. 

Council member Jeff Warren, however, requested that Council vote now, even though it was clear that Council lacked the necessary five votes.  

Voting to support the bond were Kraft, Warren, Heckman and Kelly Keegam. Voting No were Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Tom Giovanni.

After the meeting, Executive Lamont McClure expressed his dismay, especially with respect to the parking deck. "Our first duty is public safety," he said. "It's why we form government." In addition to the hazards of falling concrete in the county parking deck, he noted that the number of people who thronged the hallways for early voting presented a fire hazard. 

How Much Will New NorCo Parking Garage and Office Building Cost?

In late June, Northampton County Council tabled an ordinance authorizing $63 million in new debt for a parking garage and new office building at the courthouse campus. Most Council members agree that the parking garage is currently on life support, and it would be wasteful to spend any more money to try to extend its life. But they question the need for a new county office building, arguing that it is too costly, and the county administration should consider other alternatives.  At a July 17 Committee meeting, Gary Warren of Skanska, a development and construction company, broke down the anticipated costs. 

New Garage and Office Building. The total cost projected for this is $43.1 million. The existing garage would be demolished and replaced by a 350-space garage and 30,000 sf office building. This estimate is based on a starting date of September 2025 and completion by June 2027. 

According to Warren, the anticipated schedule is important because costs increase when construction is delayed.

You'll notice a $6.78 million "owner cost" is set aside. This includes contingencies (rock or unknown underground utilities), insurance, testing and inspection fees, utility fees, permits and associated professional services. 

Warren noted that the market for goods and labor is extremely volatile. In 2021 and 2022, it jumped about 22%. Last year, it stabilized at about 4.2%. 

New Garage only.  The total cost project for this is around $22 million. 

New Garage and Office Building, With Construction on Office Building Deferred for Two years. This would cost $48.8 million, about $5 million than building a new garage and office building simultaneously. Warren indicated that delaying office construction by two years would significantly increase both construction and owner costs. He added several times that it is a "tight site" and would be more difficult. 

County Council had no questions concerning the substance of the presentation. 

NorCo Courthouse Parking Deck On Its Last Legs

parking deck in 2016

When he was Executive, John Stoffa once proposed a $33.5 million parking deck next to Northampton County's courthouse. It would replace a 290-space garage built in 1975 with an estimated lifespan of 35-40 years. He had to settle for a $1.7 million makeover in 2010. That project ended up $500,000 over budget. It was a textbook example of what can happen when you use the lowest bidder. The finished product was marred by cracking, misaligned joints and defective overhead patches. This led to litigation in 2012 and yet another facelift in 2016, this time for $500,000. At a Northampton County Council' Capital Projects Committee last week, Public Works Director Michael Emili briefed Council on the latest attempt to extend the life of the garage by three to five years, at a cost of about $750,000. 

THA Consulting completed design work. The project is out to bid for minor structural repairs and waterproofing. Emili told Council that the cost of a new parking deck would be about $15 million.  

NorCo Parking Deck To Get Facelift

Northampton County Council voted 8-0 last night (Peg Ferraro was on assignment) to spend $101,240 with Timothy Haahs and Associates for architectural and engineering services for renovations at the Courthouse parking deck. The actual renovations, once the work starts, will be in the millions. But if the County fails to act, it is going to be paying that much in damage claims for various cars that have been subjected to falling concrete and acidic water that destroys the paint on vehicles.