26 Apr Space needs start at $12 million

(Pott. County Commission Meeting, April 24, 2017) | The Manhattan Mercury

A 20-year Master Facilities Plan recommends more than $12 million in new buildings and renovations to current facilities owned by Pottawatomie County at Westmoreland. The plan, developed by BG Consultants, combines a 2015 space needs assessment and a 2016 life cycle assessment of county facilities. It was presented Monday to county commissioners and department heads by Jim Jenkins, assistant public works director. “This is a starting point for discussion,” said Commissioner Dee McKee. “This is a good start.” Of six different scenarios presented in the plan, BG recommended Scenario 6, which would include demolition of the old county courthouse and replace it with a new consolidated office building to accommodate departments now located in three different facilities. Total estimated cost of Scenario 6 is about $12.3 million in today’s dollars and is the least expensive of the six scenarios presented, according to the presentation. The plan also proposes building out the lower level of the justice center; connecting the new office building to the justice center; vacating the current county office and health department facilities; building a new shop and storage buildings for the Road and Bridge Department; and renovating the Public Works and Weed Department offices. Scenario 6 proposes a time line beginning in 2017-18 and having all new construction and renovation completed by 2037