County targets five capital projects

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Dec 28, 20170

Whitman County Commissioners signed off on the Capital Improvement Projects list for 2018 on Dec. 18. Project proposals submitted from all county departments were pared down to five to be completed next year.

Combined, the five projects total $150,000. Two-thirds of that will pay for four projects out of the CIP fund and the most expensive is covered by the court improvement fund.

The projects on the list are “low-hanging fruit that we can get to,” said Bill Tensfeld, who added facilities management to his workload in September when former director Bob Reynolds retired. Usually, the CIP list is completed in April, but it was not so this year.

All the items on the 2018 list are lower-cost things he hopes can be accomplished. Next year’s list he expects will see some larger ticket items.

The top project on the CIP list is a structural assessment of the Public Service Building, estimated to cost $25,000. Tensfeld said the back northeast corner of the building has been settling. It is a long-standing problem which seems to increase a little more each year.

“It’s still structurally sound, and we just want to keep it that way,” he said. The project will include having a consultant look at the problem and make any recommendations for it.

The number two project is $15,000 to provide back-up power to run a switch in the courthouse so that IT can retain connectivity to the jailhouse. Both buildings already have back-up generators, this would solely be to maintain IT to the jailhouse from the courthouse.

Prosecutors reception security upgrades ranked third on the list. It is listed for $45,000 and would install safety measures such as glass windows, like those already installed for the district court, at the prosecutors reception area.

The superior court clerk’s office improvements are the most expensive of the list, tagged for $50,000 to come from the court improvements fund. Improvements will include new desks, cubicles and paint.

The last item listed is one of the least expensive; upgrade of door lock security at the Public Service Building. Tensfeld noted that some of the electric locks used there are no longer supported, so replacement parts for them cannot be found. The update will swap those out and re-key the building. Cost is listed at $15,000.