Miami County commissioners on July 23 voted 4-0 to award two contracts to study the Miami County Courthouse: a mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and structural site assessment to Ferris Engineering for $26,800, and an environmental site assessment (ESA) to Professional Environmental Engineers for $7,715.

Matt Alert, project manager, presented the MEP/structural procurement and recommended awarding Ferris Engineering after staff reviewed proposals received on July 8. “After reviewing the price proposals, both staff and commission, staff would recommend that the commission award Ferris Engineering for the MEP and structural site assessment of the Miami County Courthouse in the amount of $26,800,” Alert said.

For the ESA, staff said Miami County received proposals from Professional Environmental Engineers, Partner Engineering, Terracon, Tetra Tech and Baldrige Engineering; staff recommended Professional Environmental Engineers. A county staff member explained the two studies will be used together with a separate needs study to evaluate options for restoration, improvement or expansion of the courthouse.

A county staff speaker summarized the purpose: “The general scope of what we're trying to accomplish is either restoration, improvement, or an expansion of the Miami County Courthouse. Obviously, we have grown outside the capacity, so we wanna make sure that the existing courthouse doesn't have any structural deficiencies and is environmentally safe for people to occupy.” The commission said the studies are necessary to give constituents information and to support future decisions about the Sixth Judicial District’s courthouse needs.

Both price proposals had been publicly opened and read aloud on July 8, 2025. Commissioners approved each contract by voice vote without further amendment.