Although the Carroll County Board of Supervisors will not be holding a meeting this week, they will spend much of their time preparing for two meetings the week of June 21. This will include interviews of five engineering firms on Tuesday, June 22. Eight companies answered the county’s Request for Proposals (RFPs) on a special analysis at the courthouse to create the most efficient and effective use of the footprint available once the jail and Sheriff’s Office move into their newly constructed space. During a discussion on whittling down the field, Supervisor, Dean Schettler, says they need to do more work on coming up with direction on the scope of any renovation work they are willing to take on as well as having them consider costs of upgrades that are necessary in the 55-year-old building. Schettler says they should also consider the use of additional funds the county will be receiving.
Chair, Gene Meiners, says he does not believe that the estimated $3.9 million the county will be allocated can be used for all they are wanting to do with the selected engineering firm, but could cover some of this. Schettler asks about replacement of the temporary plexiglass, for instance.
Meiners says he has other objectives.
He says by utilizing the federal COVID dollars where they can and spreading the rest out, it will not put any strain on the county’s budget. Schettler stresses that now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to use something other than Carroll County taxpayer dollars to complete some of the needed upgrades at the courthouse. Further discussion will be held following next Tuesdays interviews with: RDG Planning and Design and Studio Melee, both of Des Moines; SEH, Inc. of St. Paul, Minn.; Stone Group Architects of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Shive Hattery, Inc. of West Des Moines.
