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Mostly clear. Low 67F. Winds light and variable..

Mostly clear. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.

PRINCETON — It would cost $250,000 to build a structure like it, and it would cost money to tear it down — so Gibson County Council members agreed Tuesday it makes the most sense to spend about $70,000 to move a steel building on the new county jail construction site and use it for storage.

But the work will have to be accomplished on a short schedule, as the county hopes to break ground on the jail project in September.

Retired sheriff George Ballard, who works on contract as the county’s representative in the jail construction project, told council members Tuesday that two structures on the former Tri-State Monument Company property fronting Main and Brumfield that was recently acquired by the county need to be moved or demolished.

The larger 60-by-50-foot building is a steel structure that could be needed for storage once the old jail is demolished, since the new jail will not have a basement. The new jail is being constructed immediately north of the existing jail, with the sheriff’s office on the southwest corner of Prince and Brumfield.

The former Standard Printing property was acquired by the county a few years ago, and that lot will be used for parking.

Ballard proposed moving the steel building to the southeast corner of the Standard Printing lot and using it to store mowers and other equipment presently stored in the jail basement.

He presented a quote from MCF Movers to move the building, pour a concrete pad and connect utilities for roughly $75,000. He said he’s received estimates that it would cost $250,000 to build another building like it.

The smaller building smaller building on the planned jail property can either be sold or bulldozed, he suggested.

Council members voted 5-0 Tuesday (Derek McGraw and Jay Riley absent) to pay to move the building, using money from the county’s Economic Development Tax fund and the county’s cumulative capital building fund.

Ballard updated the council on the jail construction project, reporting a second round of bids for the project will be opened July 26, and Garmong Construction will make recommendations on the bids to Gibson County Commissioners at the 5 p.m. Aug. 15 meeting.

He said commissioners also authorized RQAW architects to work with the Indiana Department of Transportation on any issues that might arise, since the construction site is near Ind. 65 (North Main).

Ballard also reported that the Indiana Department of Correction has reviewed and approved the jail layout plans.

The council approved an extension of Ballard’s contract from September to June 7 of 2024, which should run through construction of the jail and the training phase for jail employees.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the council authorized a $1.35 million additional appropriation for jail project personal services (architect RQAW and general contractor Garmong Construction).

They agreed to advertise an additional appropriation of $67,648.57 for the probation/public defender office construction project submitted by Danco Construction.

Council members questioned the extent of changes, which include some floor plan changes, plumbing, HVAC and other measures. County Attorney Jason Spindler said most of the chances are coming from the public defender office, and noted that the county will be reimbursed for a portion of the expenses attributed to the public defender office.

Councilman Craig Pflug asked what prompted the changes. “It’s been a very fluid project,” Spindler said.

Council members also agreed to advertise an additional appropriation of $8,885 from the cumulative building fund for the courthouse security project. The additional costs includes price increase for a generator, additional cameras, a lift, x-ray machine at the south entrance, and security badges for employees.

Pflug offered a motion to advertise for the additional appropriation, but said “commissioners or whoever made the decision to allow the increase instead of holding the contractor to original bid, need to provide an explanation. We don’t know what’s going on.”

Before the meeting adjourned, Mark Fehrenbacher asked the council to work toward a flatline budget for 2023 with no pay raises for employees. He said that while he regretted making that suggestion, taxpayers are facing a recession and high inflation.

“No one ever comes to us, asking us to spend less,” Council President Jeremy Overton mused.

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