County health department renovations could be costly
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission heard Monday that renovations to the county health department building on Main Street could cost $250,000 or more.
The commission had asked architect Dan Hall of BG Consultants, Inc. to explore options for utilizing the upstairs of the county health department.
Hall said an elevator would have to be installed and could cost $100,000. Other upgrades included a second staircase, ADA bathrooms, electrical and sewer upgrades, and heating and air conditioning to the second floor.
The commission would have to decide if it wanted to invest that much money in the aging downtown building.
The commission tabled any decision to a future meeting.
In other business:
— Hillsboro Ford-Mercury, Inc. was the low bidder for two new pickup trucks for the county's road and bridge superintendent and road supervisor.
The three Hillsboro automobile dealerships provided bids for two, 3/4-ton, heavy duty, V-8, four-wheel drive pickups with extended cabs.
Hillsboro Ford-Mercury's bid was a total of $45,594. Irv Schroeder County Motors presented a bid of $48,716, and Wrights, Inc. had a bid of $51,500. The price included the trade in of 1991 and 1994 pickup trucks.
— Road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet presented bids from county banks regarding a lease-purchase of a loader. Commission chairman Randy Dallke said he was concerned about the county over-extending itself with leases.
Currently, the road and bridge department has two dump trucks and numerous graders on lease-purchase contracts.
Bids for a new loader will be opened next week and Herzet said he will re-solicit bank bids when he has a definitive cost.
— More information will be obtained from a bidder regarding the replacement of heating units at the county shop on North Coble Street.
Four bids were obtained from area contractors with two bidding only on heating units and two bidding on heating units and heating tubes.
It appeared that Suffield Heating and Cooling of Marion had the low bid of $7,045 for a small heater for the break room and two, tube heaters for the shop area. A clarification will be made from Flamings, Inc. regarding a bid for $2,955 for what was assumed to be one tube heater.
Funk's Supply of Hillsboro and Swan's Refrigeration and Air Conditioning of Marion bid only on two heating units.
Workers preferred tube heaters in the shop area because it heated the area and equipment quicker than hanging heaters.
— Following a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel, the commission said it will make a decision next week regarding the hiring of a emergency medical services director.
— Interim transfer station director Rollin Schmidt reported the county did not have to replace the position Jack Regnier held on the county solid waste board because the county still had five members on the board which is the number it should have.
— The commission was made aware of a hearing next week regarding a Hillsboro business asking for an extension of a tax exemption. Commissioner Bob Hein and Dallke will attend the meeting.
— Herzet requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss land acquisition. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— A 10-minute executive session was held to discuss personnel with Herzet and road supervisor Steve Hudson in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Holub asked county clerk Carol Maggard to contact Joe Sklenar and Stan Thiessen and ask them to attend a commission meeting to discuss comments they made through a local newspaper.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
