Board advances Justice Center CM/GC RFP
Published on May 15, 2026
Earlier this week, the Weld County Board of Commissioners gave staff direction to finalize and publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC). The CM/GC will work alongside Fentress Studios, the company the board selected on May 6, 2026, to provide full design and engineering services for the new justice center.
As with all decisions, votes, and direction to staff, the board is considered any three commissioners in agreement (majority rule). Commissioners Ross, Buck, and Peppler agreed on the direction to move forward with the RFP, while Commissioners Maxey and James did not.
It should be noted; all five commissioners agree that:
- There is a need for a new justice center
- The county will not pursue a tax increase or bond measure for a new justice center
- The new justice center should be built in downtown Greeley
- The board must honor and comply with the Home Rule Charter, specifically section 14-8
Section 14-8 allows for a capital expenditure of any one project that uses taxpayer funds if it is less than the ad valorem taxation equal to a three mill levy for three years, or approximately $177 million per project.
After months of robust and thoughtful discussion among all five commissioners, the board (in a 3-2 decision) directed staff to move forward with three separate projects: parking garage, core and shell, and tenant finish.
At the center of the discussion is a fundamental difference of interpretation regarding the word “project” between board members: whether the proposed work should be considered one large project or three separate projects. The Commissioners not in favor of defining the three separate projects in that manner believe the building of the entire justice center should be considered one project.
The board is currently working on scheduling a work session, which is open to the public, with the Weld County Council to allow for further discussion and clarification of the work that has been done regarding the justice center so far.