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Local News

Decision on expansion of Barry County Transit delayed 30 days

A decision on a planned renovation and expansion at the Barry County Transit will be delayed at least 30 days, while Barry County Commissioners wait for an appraisal of the value of the property where the Transit and the Barry County Jail are located in the 1200 block of West State Street in Hastings.

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County Administrator Michael Brown has a tentative cost of $4,500 to $5,500 for such an appraisal from a Lansing company. The commission voted to direct Brown to get a written quote from the company, with Commissioner Ben Geiger noting they have to know the value of the property before they can move ahead with planning on replacing the jail.

“It would be foolish to proceed without that information,” he said.

 

Depending on the appraisal, commissioners could consider selling the property to help pay for a new jail. The commission also approved issuing a request for qualifications from consulting companies with experience in building jails and COA-type buildings to explain issues with those facilities, but not constructing them. Commissioners will pick a qualified company through interviews.

 

The transit had requested approval of a 2,950 square foot addition to the bus garage, a 1,160 square foot addition to the dispatch center and renovation of existing administrative space for a total of $1 million, to come from transit funds.

 

In other business, the commissioners approved:

* written policies for receiving and documenting federal funds. Administrator Michael Brown said the county has always conformed to the rules, but the federal government now requires written policies.

 

* verifying the re-appointment of Patti Richardson to the Animal Shelter Advisory Board for a one-year term as Barry County Humane Society representative.

 

* approval of an amended contract for City of Hastings Barry County Airport Director Mark Noteboom, verifying that he is an independent contractor, not an employee.  As co-owners, the Hastings City Council also must vote on the changes.

 

* a contract for $14, 015.28 to Rose Construction, the low bidder, to replace ceiling tiles in the District Courtroom.

 

* an application for state grants for fiscal year 2019 by the Office of Community Corrections.

 

* appointments of Douglas C. Klein to the Parks & Recreation Board to a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2018 and Karen Ferrier to the Community Corrections Advisory Board for a three-year- term representing the business community.

* the 2019 budget calendar.  

The commissioners went into closed session to discuss a matter exempt from disclosure by state statute.

 

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