Wadena County Board chooses annex colors
At the Aug. 9 county board meeting, architect Chad Bormann of BHH Partners, Perham, presented Wadena County Commissioners with two options for the facade of the new annex building: (1) lower half of red brick and upper of tan stucco, and (2) lower half of concrete blocks and upper half of stucco painted white, accented with black windows.
Commissioners rejected both options and created their own design: lower half of red brick and upper half of stucco painted white. Bormann agreed to the design.
After this discussion, Bormann asked commissioners to choose a design and location for the “connecting link” that may be built to attach the annex to the courthouse. The connecting link will be an enclosed, weather-proof corridor that will cost approximately $150,000 to $200,000 if commissioners decide to include it in the project. Right now, the connecting link is referred to as an “alternate” in the building plans.
Commissioners discussed whether to choose the “dog leg” design or the “straight on” design and where the connecting link should join the courthouse lower level. The discussion appeared to favor the “straight on” design that would join the courthouse at a point in the current county attorney’s space. The county attorney will move to the Annex when the new building is completed, so the connecting link wouldn’t be a problem for the county attorneyin the long term.
Commissioners also heard a presentation from construction management firm Vercon, Inc., Sebeka, about a proposed contract for managing the annex building project. Vercon was the construction manager for the Wadena County Transfer Station remodeling and expansion project that’s almost completed.
Vercon representatives Nick Ylitalo and Justin Maaninga emphasized that Vercon wants to make sure that the annex project is done by state bid requirements, but uses as much local labor and Sentenced To Service labor as possible.
Apparently there was a misunderstanding among commissioners, Vercon, and BHH Partners, about whether the annex project should be overseen by a general contractor or by a construction manager. Commissioners felt that BHH wanted a general contractor, but Bormann pointed out that wasn’t the case. BHH wants a construction manager, specifically Vercon.
Commissioners asked the Vercon representatives to return to the next board meeting with an estimate of costs for construction management services for the annex project.
Also at the Aug. 9 board meeting, Solid Waste Director Mike Hanan appeared before the board to request approval of a price quote for paving the transfer station parking lot and driveway. He confirmed that working with Vercon saved the county a considerable amount of money on the transfer station remodeling and expansion project. The project was estimated at $1.3 million, was bid out at $1.2 million and actually cost $991,000.
The quote of $35,000 from Howard’s Driveway Co. for paving the transfer station parking lot and driveway was approved by the board. The paving will proceed.
In other business, the board:
o Approved the even exchange of Wadena County federal highway funds for Cass County state highway funds, a standard bookkeeping practice for certain road projects.
o Discussed an easement across county land for landowner JoAnn White and asked White to get a professional surveyor to design the easement and an attorney to write the agreement.
o Approved a resolution to turn back three blocks of road to the City of Aldrich and acquire two blocks of road from the City of Aldrich in connection with reconstruction of CSAH 2 through that city to be done yet this year.
o Discussed a misunderstanding among Human Services Director Tanya Leske, DAC Director Sylvia Silvers, Board Chair Jim Hofer and others regarding the transfer of client slots from one agency to another. The individuals involved will meet to resolve the misunderstanding.
o Accepted with regret the resignation of Public Health accountant Deb Belch, who worked for the county for 38 years and passed a resolution acknowledging her service.
