Muskegon County moves to publish bond notice for campus renovations; officials outline phased bids and timelines

Muskegon County officials presented a multi‑phase plan on Jan. 14 to renovate county campus space and consolidate administrative services, and the Ways and Means Committee voted to publish a notice of intent to issue up to $9.5 million in general obligation limited tax bonds to pay for portions of the work.

The presentation by Steve Fink, public works engineer and project manager, and Jason Vetteney, principal architect with DLZ, outlined five bid packages covering mechanical upgrades, technology and card access, renovations for clerk/vital records and finance offices, public health and MSU Extension space, and spaces for the treasurer and register of deeds. The county has already board‑approved and ordered long‑lead mechanical equipment for bid package 1, Fink said, and staff plan to bid the remaining packages after finishing design.

"At that time the report came back with a recommendation of up to $30,000,000 of improvements," Fink said, summarizing an earlier facilities condition assessment that prompted the county’s work. He told commissioners the county closed on the campus in 2022 for just under $10 million and subsequently began identifying departments that could move from other buildings into renovated campus space.

Nut graf: The committee approved publication of a bond notice that starts a statutorily required public notification and referendum window; it does not obligate the county to sell bonds. County staff said the funding will allow the county to finish renovations that staff and department leaders say are needed for functional clinic and public‑service space and to consolidate operations to reduce the number of county‑owned buildings.

County staff and the architect emphasized functional upgrades over cosmetic work. The largest immediate work, they said, is for the health department, the register of deeds and the treasurer — including converting classroom space into private exam and clinical rooms, adding fixed sinks and separating clean and dirty lab areas for specimen handling.

"We are still in a classroom setting where we have partitions instead of clinical settings, clinical rooms," Kathy Moore, public health director, told the committee. "Once we get the setting, we'll have actual sinks where they can wash their hands. We'll have a bathroom where clients could go in and collect a specimen instead of using the public bathroom and putting it on a counter for everybody." Moore said construction to ready the health department space was expected to take about eight months.

Architect Jason Vetteney showed renderings and program plans for the main auditorium (the commissioners’ dais), public service lobbies for the register of deeds and treasurer, and the reconfigured public health entry. Vetteney said the design aims to reuse existing classroom shells where possible and minimize demolition to lower costs while upgrading mechanical, electrical, and technology systems. Commissioners asked for itemized lists of work under each bid package and for separate pages on the package numbering to make review easier.

Staff described a sequencing plan that starts with mechanical work timed around seasonal constraints. Fink said the county ordered long‑lead air‑handling equipment last summer; staff expect equipment delivery in February and hoped to begin installations in March or April, weather permitting, starting in one wing and then proceeding to others so multiple crews can work simultaneously.

County officials and consultants also described the consolidation and cost‑saving rationale: closing or selling underused buildings and reducing ongoing operations and maintenance costs by moving more functions into the renovated campus. The presentation estimated county‑owned buildings cost about $4.50 per square foot in fixed costs when unoccupied and said consolidations would lower those recurring expenses.

At the end of the meeting the committee voted to authorize publication of a notice of intent and a declaration of intent to reimburse for up to $9,500,000 in general obligation limited tax bonds "for the purpose of paying the cost of renovating, furnishing, altering, and equipping the main building on the [county] campus and the Hall of Justice," as the motion read. Bond counsel on the line explained the step: publication of the notice triggers a 45‑day petition window during which registered electors can force a referendum; the vote to publish the notice does not commit the county to issuing debt.

"This just authorizes the publication of the notice," the attorney said. "It doesn't obligate the county to actually issue the bonds at this time. We'd have to come back to the board for specific approval of the bonds." The attorney also said the notice includes the maximum principal amount and an expected maximum term (not to exceed 30 years) and allows the county to reimburse itself for prior project expenditures in accordance with federal tax rules.

Votes at a glance: - WM2501‑01s: Accept 2021 National Criminal History Improvement Plan grant, $13,794; motion passed by voice vote. - WM2501‑02: Authorize Muskegon County Sheriff's Deputy to purchase 1 year of MERS generic service credit ($25,524), with 100% of actuarial cost paid by the employee; motion passed by voice vote. Staff explained purchasing service credit can move an employee's retirement eligibility date earlier. - WM2501‑03: Approve accounts payable totaling $26,966,466.07 covering specified periods; motion passed by voice vote. - WM2501‑04: Authorize use of the Staples Advantage Cooperative/State of Michigan contract for supply purchases; motion passed by voice vote. - WM2501‑05: Award replacement of Union Depot chiller under cooperative purchasing agreement, $63,730 (installed); motion passed by voice vote. - WM2501‑06: Proposed salary range adjustment for county road commissioners (increase and subsequent 3% annual adjustments) — motion to table until the next meeting passed (tabled by a roll‑call vote; tally recorded in the minutes as 5 yes, 1 no). - WM2501‑07: Approve resolution authorizing publication of notice of intent and declaring intent to reimburse for general obligation limited tax bonds not to exceed $9,500,000 for renovating the county campus main building and the Hall of Justice; motion passed by roll call.

County staff said the air‑handling package (bid package 1) was funded previously with American Rescue Plan funds and that the $9.5 million bond amount under consideration covers bid packages 2–5. Officials cautioned the final bond amount could be lower once bids return.

Ending: County administrators and staff told the committee they will provide more detailed bid package breakdowns and job descriptions requested by commissioners, and they plan to return to the board with final bond authorization and exact financing terms if no referendum petition is filed during the statutory notice period. The committee held additional routine items and set a February 8 strategic planning work session date.