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Renovations could consolidate county offices, save taxpayer money

Supervisors to get estimates on Annex Building

TR File Photo This photo shows the iconic Marshalltown courthouse before the July 19 tornado.

The July 19 tornado caused 22 non life-threatening injuries and millions of dollars in damage to local homes, businesses and government buildings.

However, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors found a silver lining when it was announced earlier this month the county’s insurer’s would pay 100 percent of damages sustained to the courthouse roof, clock tower and cupola. That freed up approximately $900,000 in money the county was holding back in the event the insurer paid none or partial amounts.

Consequently, substantial renovation to the Annex Building, is now possible, and that subject was central to Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Central to the discussion was the opportunity to save county taxpayers from having to pay rents and related expenses at multiple locations throughout Marshalltown. For example, the county currently pays rent of $65,000 annually to house Iowa Department of Human Services workers in a building in the 200 block of West State Street.

“The Iowa Code requires counties to pay expenses for DHS staff working in their county,” Patten said. “This includes rent and office equipment.”

Conversely, staff and office could by housed in the Annex Building.

“This (renovation) when finalized, will allow the county to utilize space inside the Annex Building previously not used,” Supervisor David Thompson said. “Getting the courthouse and Annex Building back in working order will allow displaced county employees to return to their previous offices. We’ll be saving $80,000 a year in rent that is currently being paid by taxpayers.”

Using a schematic provided by Iowa-based OPN Architects, Buildings and Grounds Director Lucas Baedke discussed a number of options with supervisors and county staff. The discussion ranged from placement of stairs to elevators to office locations for various county departments. Through the study they found the building’s basement, first and second floors all provide a variety of opportunities.

After all was said and done, the supervisors voted unanimously to let Baedke contact OPN.

Their staff will then prepare a cost estimate for project costs.

Other business

In other action, the board unanimously approved a motion to hire Joseph Leichty as assistant county attorney at $65,100 annually effective Oct. 29. County Attorney Jennifer Miller told Thompson recently Leichty would be replacing a former employee who left the county attorney’s office to seek other opportunities.

The next regular Marshall County Board of Supervisors meeting will be 9 a.m. Oct. 30 on the second floor of the Great Western Bank Building, 11 N. First Ave. The board calendar can be viewed at http://goo.gl/yubHzV.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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