STARKVILLE — Columbus architectural firm Major Design Studio presented an assessment of county facilities to Oktibbeha County Supervisors on Monday that spurred a discussion about a future that may involve building a new administrative complex along with upgrades and renovations to the county courthouse and other buildings.
Supervisors are planning a work session to begin the planning process of deciding what needs will be met and how. A date for that meeting is still to be determined.
MDS’ study cost $12,000 to review the county-owned facilities in terms of age, size, insurance and utility costs, usage and functionality.
This study will assist the board in knowing which steps to take next, whether that be creating a new building or updating the current ones.
The MDS report rated county facilities from replace or renovate to superior. For example, the Felix Long Building, built in 1949, scored poorly in the report, which recommends that structure be replaced. Constructed in 2010, the county’s Emergency Management-911/Education facility received a high score indicating that the building does not need any major renovations.
Annual estimated costs for the existing buildings are more than $270,000 for utilities and $39,143 for insurance, according to the study.
The report included recommendations for what each county building needs. For example, it recommends the circuit courthouse include another courtroom, judge’s chamber, a bigger jury room and more space for the sheriff and district attorney’s needs.
Oktibbeha County’s eight buildings’ average age is 58 years with a total replacement value of $31 million. The study said a new building may cost $22 million plus any additional demolition and land costs.
MDS compared the square footage of existing buildings to what the square footage would be for one potential facility to house all county departments.
After consolidating and reducing office space from 88,428 square feet to 56,063 square feet, a county complex might include administrative and supervisors’ offices, Mississippi State Cooperative Extension offices, justice and youth courts, and the county’s Department of Health, Department of Human Services and Child Protective Services.
Supervisors’ president Joe Williams said an artist rendering should be made of the administrative complex to show the vision for that project and what space may be available for those offices planned for that property.
Ryan Ashford with MDS said an artist rendering could be completed within four and five weeks after consulting with supervisors and related stakeholders.
Board Attorney Rob Roberson said another important element to discuss is how much of a financial commitment the county is willing to make and whether the project’s costs will have to be broken into phases.
Roberson continued by sharing a personal story about the value of a new suit. He recalled how after graduating college, his father told him he needed to buy a suit.
“At the time, I had never bought a new suit, so I went and bought a new suit and spent way too much money,” Roberson said. “As I got a little older, I realized that while you can buy a cheaper suit, I learned that those suits fall apart pretty quickly while an expensive suit lasts a little longer.”
Price and quality are factors that the supervisors will have to balance when considering the project’s scope.
“We’re going to have to decide which suit we want — either we want a package and a product that’s going to last 50 to 100 years or do we want to do something less than that to get us through the next 5 or 10 years,” Roberson said. “I don’t know what that answer is. I think part of the conversation that needs to be had is what is the amount we are willing to put up.”
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