Some Marion County officials and board members are expressing concern over the 2.7 to 3.7-million dollar price quoted by its construction management company Ameresco to complete further projects for the county.
Ameresco officials sat down with the county’s building committee Thursday night on future projects at the courthouse, public service building, and law enforcement center.
The proposal included renovation at the courthouse of the main third-story courtroom, a more secure security entrance at the east side of the courthouse, renovation of the old county board room and the common areas, as well as renovation of single-use restrooms in some of the county offices. The Public Service building would get new windows and entry doors. The Law Enforcement Center would get the painting of the cell area and improvements to the building alarm center.
County Board Building Committee Chair Dr. Creighton Engel explains the next step.
“The goal from here is to come back with a priority list, what we need to get done and when. Look at separate pricing on that. Maybe get some other bids on those projects. Then to see when it is possible for the county to actually do the things.
actually practical for the county to do these.”
Engel says they are hopeful some additional federal funds may become available and will also be looking for grants.
Treasurer Gary Purcell reported the $570,000 in federal CURES money from the first round of COVID relief money could be used. He noted at Tuesday night’s full county board meeting the county currently has a $ 5 million surplus in the general fund.
The committee was told moisture was still getting into the Moose Annex building and creating potential mold problems for county records stored there. Mice and a possible rat have also been reported in the building. The committee plans immediate action to get an exterminator and correct the moisture issues.
Engel reported grants are also being sought to improve the county parking lot in the 200 block of North Broadway. Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller said the poor condition of the broken-up concrete is eventually going to result in an injury and lawsuit. He suggested using the $200,000 the county had pledged to the original grant application that was not approved and just asphalt the two lots. They were warned by Ameresco solving the problem would not be that simple since they would have to meet ADA requirements.
Ameresco reported most of the work on the first two phases is now complete, with work on the third phase of the renovation of the State’s Attorneys office and improvements to the sally port at the Law Enforcement Center is just nine percent finished.
