By COLLIN BREAUX
Contracting Unlimited was chosen as the contractor to work on constructing a 14,000 square-foot prefabricated metal building with interior buildout for offices and conference rooms and open-air arena for future buildout at the Holmes County Agricultural Center.
The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously selected Chipley-based Contracting Unlimited out of three possible firms on Tuesday, Jan. 2, after putting out a request for proposals on the project. Contracting Unlimited was the lowest bidder at $2.209 million.
“The project also includes all the associated utilities and sitework required including grinder pump station, sidewalks, and the construction of a stormwater treatment pond,” the county’s request for proposals said.
In a further explanation, County Administrative Assistant Whitney Milburn said the County’s award for the construction of a new agricultural center building at the Holmes County/George Gainer Government Efficiency Complex is the third of four phases of a $4 million appropriation funded by the Florida Legislature two years ago.
“The first phase of this project was to purchase the land and old Ag Center building, the second phase was to renovate the old Ag Center building for the Sheriff’s office, the third phase is the construction of a new Ag Center building, and the last phase is for the EMS building renovation,” Milburn said.
There is a one-year warranty on materials and workmanship. Change orders will come before the BOCC for approval.
Contracting Unlimited President Trey Cook was at the meeting to discuss their plans and answer questions from the BOCC.
“We typically work hard for a bunch of municipalities. Washington County, Jackson County,” Cook said. “I just finished working on the City of Marianna public safety building. It’s a $30 million dollar project.”
The “big thing” for Contracting Unlimited is “getting here, getting done, getting out,” Cook said.
“I want to make money on these jobs and get them done,” he said. “I’m an honest person. What you see here is what you get. If you want to see a receipt, an invoice, here it is. That’s what it costs me.”
Cook said the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville is “probably my biggest residual client.”
“I’ve done a million-plus dollars work for them every year since 2014,” Cook said. “We treat them fair.”
Cook further said he “works and plays” in the community.
“My kids go to school every day here in Holmes County,” he said. “I’m over here every day. Most of my crew that works for me lives in Holmes County. I just happen to live in Chipley.”
Cook has ideas that could save the county money, such as dealing with dirt.
“If you’ve got a place to store it, it’s cheaper for you to store it than it is for me to haul it,” he said.
County Commissioner Clint Erickson thanked Cook for coming to the meeting.
“Answering all those questions means a lot,” Erickson said. “I think this is going to be a good project. It’s been a long time coming.”
GARETT VALCOURT 
Jim Saunders 
Dara Kam 