Consultants from KLJ and Reynolds Ash presented a facilities study that estimated the space needs for a consolidated county administration facility and related department moves. The report recommends a new building of roughly 30,000 square feet to house county administration, county attorney, human services, public health, land use and parts of the sheriff's office; the study also included a parking estimate of about 168 spaces, 45,000 square feet of paved area and 10,000'15,000 square feet for stormwater retention. Consultants said that a minimum 2.5'3 acre parcel would be required for the proposed footprint and parking.

Staff and consultants noted the study was a planning-level deliverable and that next steps require identification of candidate sites for more detailed site analysis, a rendering and a refined cost estimate. The consultants said their contract includes additional work to develop site renderings if the county directs them to study specific parcels.

Commissioners and staff discussed programmatic details: which elected offices would remain at the courthouse, how to preserve a public meeting room for the commissioners and other departments, and how to include sleeping quarters and a shower for on-call emergency staff. The sheriff's office would retain a presence in the county seat but commissioners asked staff to pursue options for a satellite sheriff/EMS presence that shortens response times in the valley and high-country areas.

During discussion commissioners identified one potential strategy: asking the Bureau of Land Management whether an orphaned small parcel adjacent to U.S. Highway 550 could transfer to the county for an EMS facility or satellite ambulance station. Facilities staff said they would compile a short list of candidate parcels (county-owned and others) and requested consultant resources to evaluate site feasibility once the board prioritizes preferred locations. Staff also noted that some departmental moves are contingent on the unresolved EMS governance options, such as formation of a special district or authority, which might change needs and siting.