County hears initial facility assessment report

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Representatives with Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering met with the Jones County Supervisors on May 8 during their regular meeting to provide an update on the facilities assessment.

     “We went through the whole building,” stipulated architect Aaron Davis. “We included everything we found.” He said they separated their report on the jail.

     The issues Shive-Hattery found, Davis said, are everything from minor things that could be addressed by the county employees to immediate concerns and long-term issues for the next five to 10 years.

     “We wanted to get an idea from you what you find to be important,” said Davis.

     Shive-Hattery included prices and timeframe on the various projects, from a few hundred dollars to large-scale items such as a new jail.

     “This gives you rough budget costs,” said Davis.

     The initial draft assessment included:

     • ADA compliance in the jail for offender visitations

     • Interior sprinkler system

     Davis said the courthouse was grandfathered in, but if the facility were ever remodeled, the county would lose that clause.

     • Landing step on fire escape stairway

     • Replacement of windows throughout the courthouse

     County Auditor Janine Sulzer asked if the assessment includes the cost for historically accurate window replacement. Davis said that would depend on the county budget.

     • Plaster repair

     • Cleanup and painting from water filtration in the boiler room

     • Electrical issues

     • ADA railings

     • ADA restrooms

     • ADA drinking fountain

     • Exterior light on fire escape

     • Exterior ramp into the courthouse does not meet ADA requirements

     Overall, David said the courthouse’s building envelope “looks pretty good.

     “There’s nothing immediate to address right away,” he added.

     In terms some of the mechanical and plumbing issues, particularly with the ADA drinking fountain, Supervisor Ned Rohwedder said some fixes would be tough to accomplish. “With the building being concrete, we can’t just run a new waterline,” he said.

     “You need to look into what’s feasible,” offered Davis.

     With the county’s Broadway Place Annex facility, Shive-Hattery said they didn’t see a lot of issues. One thing Davis did point out was that the space some of the offices are occupying doesn’t meet their current needs. This would require major repairs and a full interior remodel of both the upper and lower floors.

     “The Annex is in pretty good shape,” he said. “It just needs some repurposing.”

     The biggest issue, as Chris Nelson with Shive-Hattery pointed out, was the parking lot at the Broadway Annex, as well as the grassy hillside. Nelson said stabilization plants could be added to eliminate the mowing, which is a hazard concerning the steep hill.

     Shive-Hattery asked the board to review the preliminary draft and report back any changes or suggestions.

     The final draft assessment from Shive-Hattery is due May 15 to the board.

 

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