Commissioners Approve Justice Building Design
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
After months of discussions with public officials, the architectural and engineering firm was ready Tuesday for the Kosciusko County Commissioners to approve the design development package for the Justice Building expansion project.
Charlie Goodman, with Schenkel & Schultz, said the final design before the commissioners "is a milestone in terms of design."
The commissioners unanimously approved the design development package. Bids for the project are expected to be taken as early as the first of the year.
Goodman gave a presentation on the design and layout of the Justice Building project.
Sheriff's department dispatch will be in the basement and will be completed soon. The coroner's office will be in the northeast corner and other additions in the basement will be a kitchen, laundry, maintenance, mechanical and unassigned areas.
The tunnel from the courthouse to the Justice Building will be cut off except for authorized personnel. Goodman said building security is a priority.
The main level of the building will be completed in three phases. "We have tried to reduce or limit the amount of renovations we're doing," Goodman said.
The prosecuting attorney's office will be in the area once occupied by the voter registration office. One of the courtrooms will be saved for future considerations. The new addition of the main level will include the county clerk and probation departments.
"We have an adequate amount of future growth potential," Goodman said.
The main entrance of the Justice Building will face east and will be handicapped accessible. The probation department will have its own entrance.
Also on the main level will be the sheriff's administration office, the booking area and cell blocks. Housing for low-level offenders will be built dorm-style. The new wing for the cell blocks will be two tiers and will have approximately 300 beds.
The second level of the Justice Building will include the second tier of the cell block, the circuit and superior courts, room for another court and future expansion capability.
The preliminary estimates for the Justice Building expansion project also were presented. Estimated construction costs will be approximately $21,180,253. Optional renovations may be as much as $824,320, which would raise the estimated costs to $22,004,573. Approximately $2 million is estimated for contingencies.
None of the project will matter, though, if the State Board of Accounts doesn't approve the county's bond issue for the project. According to commissioner Avis Gunter, the state board has delayed ruling on the bond issue for nine weeks.
"We've done everything we've been asked to do," said commissioner Eddie Creighton.
The commissioners approved sending a letter to the board stating their need for the bond issue to be approved.
"Every time we just sit here, the interest rates keep climbing," Gunter said.
On Aug. 25, the commissioners met with the local tax board for a hearing and received a unanimous recommendation and approval for the project. [[In-content Ad]]
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After months of discussions with public officials, the architectural and engineering firm was ready Tuesday for the Kosciusko County Commissioners to approve the design development package for the Justice Building expansion project.
Charlie Goodman, with Schenkel & Schultz, said the final design before the commissioners "is a milestone in terms of design."
The commissioners unanimously approved the design development package. Bids for the project are expected to be taken as early as the first of the year.
Goodman gave a presentation on the design and layout of the Justice Building project.
Sheriff's department dispatch will be in the basement and will be completed soon. The coroner's office will be in the northeast corner and other additions in the basement will be a kitchen, laundry, maintenance, mechanical and unassigned areas.
The tunnel from the courthouse to the Justice Building will be cut off except for authorized personnel. Goodman said building security is a priority.
The main level of the building will be completed in three phases. "We have tried to reduce or limit the amount of renovations we're doing," Goodman said.
The prosecuting attorney's office will be in the area once occupied by the voter registration office. One of the courtrooms will be saved for future considerations. The new addition of the main level will include the county clerk and probation departments.
"We have an adequate amount of future growth potential," Goodman said.
The main entrance of the Justice Building will face east and will be handicapped accessible. The probation department will have its own entrance.
Also on the main level will be the sheriff's administration office, the booking area and cell blocks. Housing for low-level offenders will be built dorm-style. The new wing for the cell blocks will be two tiers and will have approximately 300 beds.
The second level of the Justice Building will include the second tier of the cell block, the circuit and superior courts, room for another court and future expansion capability.
The preliminary estimates for the Justice Building expansion project also were presented. Estimated construction costs will be approximately $21,180,253. Optional renovations may be as much as $824,320, which would raise the estimated costs to $22,004,573. Approximately $2 million is estimated for contingencies.
None of the project will matter, though, if the State Board of Accounts doesn't approve the county's bond issue for the project. According to commissioner Avis Gunter, the state board has delayed ruling on the bond issue for nine weeks.
"We've done everything we've been asked to do," said commissioner Eddie Creighton.
The commissioners approved sending a letter to the board stating their need for the bond issue to be approved.
"Every time we just sit here, the interest rates keep climbing," Gunter said.
On Aug. 25, the commissioners met with the local tax board for a hearing and received a unanimous recommendation and approval for the project. [[In-content Ad]]