If Oktibbeha County decides to build a new headquarters, it could cost about $31 million, according to estimates the board of supervisors received at its meeting Monday.
Major Design Studio of Columbus conducted the first stage of a facility assessment of all county-owned facilities, reporting 88,428 square feet among eight buildings with the average age of each building being 58 years.
The company also found that a new replacement value would be $350 per square foot. If the county decided to create a building with the total square footage it already uses, the cost would amount to $30,949,800.
A new headquarters would likely be located at Felix Long Street in Starkville, where the new construction would replace the facilities that now house the Department of Human Services, the county Extension Service and justice court.
MDS Principal Ryan Ashford said the company will soon conduct the second stage of the assessment, looking at the existing county buildings’ interiors and structures and determining their functionality. He asked the board to consider which departments would be housed in the new facility and which would stay in their current locations.
“You’re not going to be putting all of the programs into your new building,” Ashford said. “Now it starts to get to the point of which spaces are going to go into the new building.”
The board approved the initial facility study assessment with MDS on April 6.
Supervisors concluded they would have to consult with all department heads before deciding what to house in the new facility, if built. Chancery Clerk Sharon Livingston, for example, who was in attendance for Monday’s meeting, said she would prefer the chancery court to stay in its existing building if the office can receive some updates.
MDS and the board discussed renovating some of the existing buildings along with creating the new facility, as well as potentially moving some departments in older buildings into newer areas.
Board attorney Rob Roberson said he would like to see a facility with a lifespan of 50 to 100 years and that helps the area in terms of its aesthetic look.
“We don’t want to build something over there that doesn’t mesh into what we’ve already currently got, whether that looks similar to what’s over there,” Roberson said. “I’m not saying it needs to look like City Hall, but it needs to be something that meshes.”
The board and MDS determined they would set up a work session with all county department heads to discuss the potential of this new facility.
“If we are going to look at creating a new building, then I think we need to talk with all of the department heads about what do they need to be more functional, to be more efficient in doing work for the county,” Ashford said. “Now, we go about making, basically setting up a meeting with them and with the supervisors and talk about what all is needed.”
District 5 Supervisor and Board President Joe Williams also suggested the board have a “walk-through” with MDS to see the condition of the current buildings.
“Some of us, it’s been awhile since we’ve been in these buildings, just to see what’s actually there and to see an idea of what we have to work on,” Williams said.
District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery thanked MDS for the presentation and said he wants this new building to set Oktibbeha County up for a successful future.
“We’re at a stage of growth,” Montgomery said. “We’ve got to think long term, after we’re all gone, what direction we’ll put our county in. … A lot of conversations need to be had.”
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