Earlier this year, Wright County officials decided that, in light of bond refinancing, the county was going to save considerable money from current bonding debt and pending bond issues.
It was the size of the savings from the courthouse and jail bond issues that let county officials say that the savings would cover the cost of the remodeling project scheduled for 2003.
But the question that people began asking was how much will actually be left from those bond savings? At the Tuesday, Nov. 19, meeting of the county board, that question came up and brought with it some concerns that the prices are jumping much more than originally thought.
Commissioner Pat Sawatzke asked about one of the items on the agenda, a request from Beutow and Associates Inc., the architect for the remodeling, to have its base fee for construction increased from $50,000 to $69,000.
“I’m not sure why these numbers necessarily need to change the same amount,” said Sawatzke, referring to the billing increase compared to the project’s square footage increase. “We came up with the original contract to not have any hidden costs. That’s what this looks like we were trying to avoid.”
At issue is the escalating cost of the proposed remodeling-construction project. At first, the project was estimated at about $500,000.
That figure is now up to $700,000, as new projections show increases in the cost for remodeling of the license center ($60,000 increase), extension office ($55,000), law library ($50,000) and auditor-treasurer ($40,000). As a result, Beutow’s increase in the size of the project by square footage (48 percent) requires an increase in its base fee (38 percent).
The increase in the cost of the project may not end there. In a separate item discussed by the board, again concerning Beutow, the question of replacing the county’s existing heating pumps came up.
The county has 22 heat pumps that are nearing the end of their life expectancy. They are in areas where construction isn’t planned. However, the numbers being thrown around are eye-opening for savings if done as part of the ongoing remodeling.
“The numbers are substantial,” purchasing agent Craig Hayes said. “The new heat pumps are 20 percent more efficient than the ones we currently have – most installed in 1990, but several installed in 1980.
“The question we have to ask is whether it would be more economical to replace all of them now as part of the remodeling. With a 20 percent higher efficiency rating, there is a five-year payback on having them installed. After five years, we would actually be realizing a savings over the current system.”
With 22 pumps in the annex building, the cost of replacement would be somewhere between $235,000 and $285,000. If approved, the project could push the $1 million figure if tied in with the increased construction costs.
However, there is a need, since the county may be wasting a lot of money to keep the courthouse cool in the summer, warm in the winter and with lights on.
“The energy bills for the courthouse run about $200,000 a year,” Hayes told the board. “We’re looking for ways of bringing those costs down and this may be one of them.”
With questions floating around on both issues, both items were laid over to be discussed at a budget committee of the whole meeting scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25. It was hoped at that time more concrete answers could be given to a project that continues to grow.
“We need to look at these now because we need to get the most we can out of this project,” board chairman Jack Russek said. “If we can spend money now we may save money down the line.”
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