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Franklin County approves interbudget transfers to complete coroner morgue; construction on track for August
Summary
The county approved Resolution 2025‑198 to transfer contingency and expansion funds to the coroner’s office to pay invoices for completion of a new morgue; officials said the project is on schedule and that equipment grants covered equipment but not construction costs.
Franklin County commissioners approved an interbudget transfer on July 9 to move funds into the coroner’s office budget so the county can pay outstanding invoices and complete construction of a new coroner facility.
Coroner’s office representative (McGarry) told the board that previously allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds identified for the project have been expended and additional transfers are necessary to finish construction and start paying invoices. "We're right on budget. We're gonna be just a little bit over because of the sewer system that we didn't foresee," McGarry said, adding that the project remained on target for completion in early August.
Why this matters: the new facility is intended to localize services — including autopsies — and reduce reliance on out‑of‑area facilities. County officials discussed potential rental and shared‑use arrangements with neighboring Benton County and a private organization that has expressed interest in using space.
Key points commissioners heard: - Funding: McGarry said equipment purchases for the facility were supported by grant funding, but construction costs required additional county transfers now that ARPA funds had been expended. - Timeline: McGarry said the project timeline was on track for completion in approximately one month (target: August). - Capacity and operations: current equipment will support 12–13 decedent storage positions with the ability to expand; a portable morgue unit will hold 16 additional decedents. McGarry said the cooler being installed could be expanded to 20 positions. The coroner’s office reported it performs about 24 autopsies a year and responds to roughly 180–190 calls annually; use of an onsite multi‑stat drug analyzer reduces the number of full autopsies in drug‑related deaths. - Potential revenue/use: McGarry said a private organization has discussed a year‑to‑year rental at roughly $2,000 per month and that final proposals and contract terms remained under negotiation; the county indicated proposals would be reviewed through legal counsel.
The board moved and approved Resolution 2025‑198 authorizing the interbudget transfers so the coroner’s office could continue work and begin paying invoices. Commissioners asked staff to forward negotiated rental proposals to legal counsel and to provide follow‑up information on grant‑funding conditions that could affect future disposals or uses of the facility.
Ending: The board approved the transfer and asked staff to return with any rental proposals and additional detail on funding sources and potential ongoing costs; no further action on the matter was taken at the meeting.
