Supervisors present space analysis results for annex building

A space analysis by Shive-Hattery engineering firm has found that approximately 15,000 square feet is needed to house all of the departments currently in the Jasper County Annex building. The report was presented on Tuesday by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors.

Three options were presented to the board for potential locations of the departments currently housed in the annex building.

“They looked at staying in the existing annex building, put a number on what that would take to get it remodeled and suitable,” supervisor Joe Brock said. “They did a stand alone existing building remodel and they looked at a possible lease scenario for us (at DMACC.)”

A first cost estimate to complete all suggested work on the annex building including the south dock removal, foundation waterproofing, basement and additional building remodel, mechanical equipment replacement and a new roof came in at $1.9 million. The largest portion of the cost was with the building remodel at a cost of $100 per square foot, with more than 7,500 square feet, totalling $750,000. Foundation waterproofing was the second significant portion at $640,000.

Utilities and maintenance costs for the building were estimated at $24,000 and $40,000 each. The 30-year life cycle costs for all suggested work along with utilities and maintenance was $3.348 million.

“When Shive-Hattery does something like this, they show the complete, everything that is done with it,” supervisor Doug Cupples said. “Probably some of these numbers are inflated.”

For a new, stand-alone building, the 30-year life cycle cost came in slightly higher at $3.388 million. Alternatively, the energy costs were down $6,000 to $18,000 and maintenance costs were also down $10,000 at $30,000 per year.

Included in the summary of a new building, totaling 16,320 square feet, was a $300,000 building purchase, $1.632 building remodel cost, $130,000 new roof, $100,000 replacement of mechanical equipment, $100,000 moving cost and $40,000 IT update cost. A hypothetical building was used in the cost estimates submitted.

The third option of leasing space at the DMACC/Maytag campus would give the county 15,000 square feet with no utility costs, approximately $10,000 in maintenance costs with $75,000 per year lease. Of the $400,000 estimated first costs, $250,000 would be used for building remodels, $100,000 for moving expenses, $30,000 for IT and $20,000 for plumbing. For the 30-year life cycle costs, leasing the building is significantly lower at $2.67 million.

“If we were to lease space, it has its advantages,” Brock said. “It would keep maintenance costs down.”

Brock also addressed the future of the Jasper County Health Department and its location in the basement of the annex building. He said the board needs to decide what it wants the public health department to look like for the county along with working on a better line of communication with the board of health.

One step the supervisors are taking is to visit public health departments in other counties to become more educated on their work and the environment where people work.

“We need to make a decision as a board of what we want our public health to look like and what we want to pursue, I think that is one issue here,” Brock said.

No action was taken on the space analysis report.

The supervisors have had the annex building on the docket for almost a year. Along with the space analysis, a mold study was completed in April with a recommendation of mold remediation for the home care aide’s office in the basement. Also, an assessment of the building’s exterior foundation was completed in June with the recommendation of a complete foundation excavation and waterproofing. To date, no action has been taken on the annex building.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com