FIRM IN LINE TO OVERSEE BUILDING.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

A Los Angeles company that oversaw the building of the Palmdale Playhouse is being considered to guide the construction of a civic courthouse, the mayor said Monday.

Palmdale is considering hiring JCM Group for $79,300 to oversee the construction of the courthouse and the development services building. The development services building would be used to consolidate public works, economic development, code enforcement officers and other city functions now spread about different locations.

``In order to provide the city with a cost efficient, quality facility, of this size, it is desirable to have a construction management company on board to supplement staff and provide critical oversight on value engineering and cost estimating,'' Leon Swain, deputy director of public works, wrote in a staff report.

The City Council will consider the proposed contract at its meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, 708 E. Palmdale Blvd.

The two projects combined are expected to cost about $10 million.

The proposed 16,500-square-foot courthouse would have four courtrooms, a civil court clerk's office, and a multipurpose room that would serve primarily as a jury assembly room.

Palmdale is proposing to build the courthouse and provide it rent free to Los Angeles County in exchange for a commitment that it would use the facility for at least 10 years. City officials hope to learn whether Los Angeles County will agree to the project in the next few weeks.

``We're not going to commit a lot of resources until we get a go-ahead from the county,'' Ledford said.

The courthouse and the Development Services Building would be built at the city's Civic Center, facing the new Civic Square.