On April 16, 2025, the Warren County Board convened to hear proposals from two engineering firms, Hutchison Engineering, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Illinois, and Farnsworth Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, for professional services related to the county’s new jail project. The firms presented their qualifications to serve as the Owner’s Representative during the preconstruction phase of the design-build process, a critical step in guiding the project toward successful completion.
The jail project stems from a referendum passed by Warren County voters in November 2022, which approved funding for the construction of a new correctional facility to replace the aging existing structure. The project has encountered challenges in its early stages, prompting the board to consider hiring an engineering firm as an Owner’s Representative to ensure smooth progress.
An Owner’s Representative serves as the county’s advocate, acting as a liaison between Warren County and project stakeholders, including architects, contractors, and consultants. Their duties include overseeing project planning, managing budgets, ensuring compliance with state and local regulations, facilitating communication, and resolving issues. For example, an Owner’s Representative helps ensure that materials and equipment selected for the jail, such as security systems or structural components, meet quality and performance standards while balancing cost considerations. They review specifications to confirm that the chosen parts are fit for purpose, avoiding overly cheap options that may compromise durability or unnecessarily expensive ones that do not add value.
Representatives from Hutchison Engineering and Farnsworth Group highlighted their experience with similar projects and their commitment to transparency and collaboration to address the complexities of the jail project. The board expressed appreciation for the thorough presentations but decided to table any vote on retaining either firm until the county’s legal counsel can review the proposals. A special board meeting is expected to be held next week to finalize the decision, with Warren County planning to announce the meeting date soon.
***Story Courtesy of Louis Quaid***
