Merced supervisors approve architect firm to head ADA work

The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $500,000 contract with Vanir Construction Management to assess what work needs to be done to bring county facilities into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Justice Department signed a settlement with Merced County in July requiring the county do major work to comply with the ADA. The Justice Department’s review ranged from the county’s Winton Park and Los Banos Fairgrounds to the jail and main library.

Before work can begin, the county needed to select an independent licensed architect to identify and certify the modifications. Out of three firms that submitted bids, the county chose Vanir. Supervisors approved the firm on a vote of 4-0. Deidre Kelsey, District 4 supervisor, was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

“Vanir has the breadth of resources, to staff, survey, design and recommend appropriate actions and alternatives to the county to comply with … the ADA and the Justice Department’s settlement agreement,” county documents said.

The contract with Vanir is for 45 months, said Mike North, a county spokesman. The county will submit the choice of architect to the Justice Department for formal approval.

The 17-page settlement agreement required the county to designate an ADA coordinator, update its employment policies to comply with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, contract oral and sign-language interpreters to serve at the Sheriff’s Department and more.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Merced supervisors approve architect firm to head ADA work."