New county building project moves forward

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New county building project moves forward

Two-story building adjacent to courthouse is favored

03/07/02

Stirrat

BALSAM LAKE - A proposal to construct a new two-story building to house the

county health and human services departments will be considered at the March

19 meeting of the Polk County Board of Supervisors, following a vote in

January to borrow up to $7.345 million for the project. Although the amount

is enough to cover construction of a new building, it was just last week

that a proposal to build new rather than repair the existing building was

developed. The new building will replace the now-empty county office

building, vacant due to air quality problems associated with mold growth.

More than 120 county employees have been moved out of the blighted building

and into modular office units located on adjacent property. Studies

conducted last fall indicated that, with new exterior and interior walls,

windows, carpeting, roof, and air handling system, the building could

possibly be made safe for employees. No guarantee could be given, however,

that the mold growth and air quality problems would be solved. Last week,

the office building renovation committee reviewed several options for

resolving the problem, and agreed to recommend construction of a new

facility. The proposal was supported Monday, March 4, by the county

executive committee, and will be presented for vote as a resolution at the

March 19 county board meeting. The resolution will give the building

committee authority to contract with Venture Architects, the Milwaukee firm

handling the Adult Development Center and Justice Center, to engineer and

construct a facility estimated near 43,400 square feet. Committee chairman

A. Stanley said that the tentative plan is to place the building

north of the existing courthouse, where a parking lot is now located. The

two buildings would be linked by access doors and an elevator that meets

requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This location,

according to , was favored because it would cut costs for installing

utilities and for janitorial services. In addition, the elevator could serve

both buildings, replacing the existing elevator in the courthouse that will

soon need to be upgraded to meet ADA standards. Committee vice-chair

IV said that Venture Architects is currently interviewing staff in

the human services and health departments, and will be presenting conceptual

design options at the March 11 committee meeting. Included in the $7.345

million is money needed to rent the modular units now in use, to remove them

when the project is completed, any necessary site improvements, and any

architect and construction management fees. No plans have been made for the

former office building, said, but county supervisors have discussed

the gamut between razing the building and renting it out to another agency.