By JESSICA BRICKER
Preliminary budget numbers for a new highway garage currently sit at $10.3 million.
Conor Jackson of James S. Jackson Company led a roughly hour-long presentation Tuesday evening with the Wells County Council, going through the breakdown of anticipated costs.
He called it a living document that will be updated over time. He was joined by commissioners Jeff Stringer and Blake Gerber, who both indicated the numbers currently sit higher than they would like with Gerber adding they would like to cut the budget to about $7 million.
To that end, there were several items included in the documents that Jackson said could be trimmed and that he would like the council’s feedback on. There are also alternatives for cost-saving measures. County Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar said the plans for the facility have been revamped several times already throughout the beginning stages.
There was also discussion about the possibility of partnering with the City of Bluffton to extend utility services south of Valero on Adams Street to 200S, which Stringer said would benefit both the city and county for potential future growth at the industrial park and along the 200S corridor.
Jackson said the building plans uses 10 acres of the new site southwest of 200S and Adams Street, leaving 10 additional acres for the county’s use.
He also said he would continue to attend meetings of the county commissioners to provide updates as the project progresses.
Once the plans are finalized, it was noted they will be released for the public’s viewing. According to a preliminary construction schedule, the project would be completed by 2024.
jessica@news-banner.com
