The Harrison County Commission on Tuesday approved a feasibility and master‑planning study for the county'owned Route 19 property and directed consultants to refine the scope, prioritize permitting and environmental review, and return with adjusted proposals.

The vote authorized McKinley (fee proposal) to prepare a feasibility/master plan for the 40‑acre site, excluding certain detailed surveying and underground-utility location tasks identified in the consultants'proposals and reserving those items to be added later as the site program is defined. Commissioner Henkel moved the motion; the commission approved it by voice vote.

Commissioners and county staff said the study will first produce a visioning/master plan that identifies potential uses (animal control shelter, farm/fairgrounds-type building, parking and community amenities) and shows how utilities, traffic flow and grading could work together. John from McKinley and a representative from CEC presented multiple grading and pad options, from minimal earthwork to a large single pad, plus an initial geohazard review and a stream/wetland delineation the firms already completed.

Consultants told the commission that delineations and a jurisdictional determination from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could take months and will affect whether the county can use a nationwide permit (faster) or must pursue an individual permit (longer and costlier). They recommended completing the Army Corps jurisdictional determination concurrently with a master plan to clarify mitigation needs and limits on stream/wetland impacts.

Commissioners emphasized the need to define the county''s program up front (what facilities the county wants and rough budgets) so consultants can produce a targeted master plan instead of broad options. The commission also asked that CEC be included in permitting discussions and that the Livestock Association, 4‑H, parks and recreation, utilities and other stakeholders be invited to visioning sessions.

The commission said it does not intend to start all detailed survey and subsurface utility work until the preferred facility locations are identified, but it asked McKinley to return with an adjusted proposal that removes immediately unnecessary line items and shows a phased approach to design and permitting. No construction dollars were approved at the meeting.

The commission also discussed cost drivers: earthwork (cubic yards moved), wetland/stream mitigation, and geotechnical drilling. Consultants estimated rough earthwork costs at $5'to $8 per cubic yard depending on the volume moved. Commissioners repeatedly said they preferred minimizing earthwork where possible to control cost.

The commission voted to approve the feasibility/master-plan scope as presented with the noted omissions and directed county staff to coordinate stakeholder sessions and permitting steps. Consultants will provide a revised proposal reflecting the commission's direction.

Ending: County staff and the consultants will return with a revised, narrower proposal and a recommended schedule for the Army Corps jurisdictional determination and master-plan visioning sessions; no construction or appropriation followed the study approval on July 29.