City Commissioners unanimously approved two contracts for the Municipal Court relocation project during their June 18 meeting.

Staff recommended, and commissioners approved, $172,897.17 to AVI Systems Inc. and $19,171.39 to Mountain Alarm Fire and Security.

Both contracts will be paid with American Rescue Plan Act, or federal COVID relief, funds.

Last year, commissioners approved the plan to renovate the Missouri Room on the second floor of the Civic Center into two courtrooms and office space for Municipal Court, which is currently one courtroom in the building’s basement.

City approves $2.19 million contract for Municipal Court relocation to Missouri Room

In March, commissioners awarded a $2.19 million construction contract to Wadsworth Builders for the project, which is underway.

Since the construction contract was awarded, city staff has been working with IT to define the audio/visual and connectivity needs for the new courtrooms, including computers, cameras, microphones, speakers, auditory aides and televisions for video conferencing, according to staff.

“The IT department wanted this system to be able to be integrated, monitored, and serviced by the same vendor who services our other A/V systems throughout the rest of the Civic Center. Therefore, court, IT, and finance staff worked with AVI to develop a Scope of Work for the needs of the new courts,” according to the staff report. “AVI has provided an adequate quote that represents the integration needs of the court staff. Staff requested approval to sole source this contract, based on the fact that AVI is very familiar with the systems throughout the Civic Center and already services all of our other A/V equipment. AVI also has extensive experience in integrating A/V technology in other courtrooms throughout Montana and the northwest.”

Municipal Court discusses unpaid fines, second judge, additional court space [2023]

The city finance department granted sole source approval, according to staff.

Since the construction contract was awarded in March, city staff has also been working with the architect on security measures for the new courtrooms.

City approves design contract for Missouri Room remodel [2023]

Commissioners approved the contract with Mountain Alarm, which will install security access doors throughout the new court space and provide a control and monitoring system for those doors.