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Facilities director flags aging county buildings, $1.3 million rooftop unit and push for countywide master plan
Summary
Beltrami County facilities director Steve told commissioners his facility condition assessments show most buildings rated 'good' but identified the highway shop as in 'poor' condition and said engineers now estimate rooftop replacement at the Community Services Center could cost about $1.3 million; he proposed forming a countywide master planning
Steve (Shadrach), facilities director for Beltrami County, told the board that facility condition assessments (FCAs) show most county buildings are in “good” condition but identified the highway shop as the county’s single building in “poor” condition and said rising replacement estimates for rooftop units will affect budgeting.
“We do those [assessments] annually,” Steve said, describing the FCA process as a one‑to‑three‑day review per building used to set maintenance and capital budgets. He said he rates buildings as excellent, good, fair or poor and that most campus buildings are now in the good category after 20–25 years of service. He told commissioners: “With our new jail coming online, we will be a little over 450,000 square feet that we manage and maintain.”
Steve highlighted several facility issues: the historic courthouse (123 years old) needs continuous tuckpointing and window/door caulking; the annex is 51 years old but in good shape; and the highway shop—part of a 51‑year‑old complex—shows floor and roof deterioration, cracked concrete masonry units, failing drain piping under concrete slabs and constraints for larger equipment. He said a structural engineer confirmed the building is safe but needs significant repairs and modernization.
On the Community Services Center, Steve said prior engineering estimates for rooftop unit replacements ranged from $630,000 to $850,000; a new detailed estimate from EAPC put the cost at about $1,300,000. “It has just significantly… grown,” he said, adding the work can be staged across years but will present a budget challenge.
Steve recommended forming a countywide facilities master planning committee involving department leaders, administration and auditors to develop long‑term capital strategy and financial direction. He said the master plan would coordinate needs across courts, public safety and other county functions and direct facility investments over a multiyear horizon.
Ending: Commissioners asked about security and safety system testing and were told the sheriff’s office tests panic devices and cameras and that staff recently ran panic‑device drills with county employees. Steve said he will return with refined project plans and suggested the board consider prioritization of shop and rooftop projects in upcoming budgets.
