County looks for ways to reduce cost of building
Stark County officials sold the weed control building so they must construct a new one, though they denied a $435,675 estimate a few months ago, saying it was too expensive.
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Stark County officials sold the weed control building so they must construct a new one, though they denied a $435,675 estimate a few months ago, saying it was too expensive.
The cost of a new building is unclear but what is known is the building will be constructed next to the county shop, on the west edge of Dickinson. Construction may begin as early as fall, Stark County Commissioner Russ Hoff said.
“That was kind of the whole goal when we put the county shop out here is to try and facilitate as many of the county building services together,” said Al Heiser, county road superintendent. “It’s easier, it’s more efficient.”
Stark County commissioners agreed to sell the building at an Aug. 3 meeting. The county owns 17 buildings, Stark County clerk Lynn Betlaf said.
The building on 26th Avenue West in Dickinson isn’t adequate, Heiser said. And Diane Allmendinger, county weed control officer, said they fuel at the county shop so it’s a logical place to put it.
“We want to make this building more friendly for the weed board, with safety features, a men and women’s bathroom and shower and eyewash station,” Heiser said.
Commissioners turned down the first estimate because they felt it was too expensive, Hoff said.
“We just kind of said, ‘No. Go back to the drawing board,’” Hoff said. “We don’t need an elaborate type of building.”
They’re now looking at ways to reduce costs, although a target price range hasn’t been established, Hoff said.
“We thought that being I’m there everyday, I could kind of oversee some of the construction as it goes,” Heiser said, adding that should reduce the price.
Money for the 50-by-150 foot building will come out of the county’s capital improvement fund, Heiser said.
“Nothing’s written in stone,” Hoff said. “Everything we’re doing is basically preliminary.”
About half the building will be insulated, heated and used for weed control. The other half will house road crew equipment.
Commissioners agreed to sell the existing weed control building to the Western and Central Soil Conservation District, Hoff said.
The SCD plans to trade its building behind Stark County Social Services, which is worth about $20,000 and pay an additional $130,000.
The sale isn’t finalized, but Bob Klein, district technician the SCD, said they plan to purchase it.
“This is something that we need,” Klein said. “We’ve outgrown our building.”
Heiser hopes they can at least get the concrete for the facility poured before winter.
If the building is not constructed, all three agencies plan to work together to provide space for one another.
Tags: stark county, russ hoff, news, local, weed, fccnetwork
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