Barry County commissioners debate $490,000 renovation plan for former Friend of the Court building

Barry County commissioners on May 6 debated whether to move forward with roughly $490,000 in proposed renovation work at the county'owned former Friend of the Court building, with staff saying some repairs are required for code and safety and commissioners asking for more detail before committing large funds.

The discussion centered on immediate code-compliance work, longer-term mechanical and layout changes and whether to hire a construction manager and designers now or wait until a clearer occupancy plan is adopted. Eric (County Administrator) and Jeff (Buildings and Grounds director) told commissioners the building needs repairs to remain safe and weather-tight; commissioners pressed for a tighter scope and more competitive bidding information before approving major expenditures.

Why it matters: The county owns the two-story, roughly 9,000-square-foot building and has already spent money on windows. Commissioners said leaving the building empty risks further deterioration. Several speakers warned that spending public money without a clear plan could create public perception problems while others said certain repairs cannot wait because they are code or safety items.

Jeff, Buildings and Grounds director, described the work as a mix of urgent, code-required items and preparatory renovations. He said remediation from a recent water leak is complete and that there is no mold. He also explained how cost estimates come from standard architectural formulas and include contingencies: "Those are the things that you don't know when you open walls and you get into issues," Jeff said, urging the commissioners not to reject necessary contingency allowances.

Eric said the funds being considered would come from the county''s building rehab fund (a designated reserve), not the general funds set aside for other large projects such as a proposed new jail. He recommended addressing immediate code issues first and offered to provide more scenario-based plans and cost detail for the board.

County employee Carrie Esner, who previously worked in the FOC building, asked for clearer justification for the planned work and for the board to consider staff vacancies in the trial court system before investing: "Investing in the people, not just property, is the surest way to maintain quality public service," Esner said, urging commissioners to postpone large spending while positions remain open.

Public commenter Gary White also pressed commissioners for a full timeline and stated concern about spending without a clear reuse plan.

Several commissioners said they supported doing the minimum necessary to make the building safe and code-compliant now but wanted to delay any larger, tenant-specific build-outs until the county decides which offices will occupy the space. Commissioner Campbell said he would not vote to spend a half-million dollars without a plan; Commissioner Geddes and others asked for clearer proposals showing which county departments would move.

The board did not approve the renovation package at the meeting. By consensus, commissioners requested more detailed, line-item cost estimates, clarification of which items are strictly code or safety needs and options for contracting or bidding the work so the board could review those details before any formal approval.

The administration said staff and the buildings and grounds director will meet with any commissioners who want a walk-through and a line-by-line review of the recommended scope and costs. Insurance proceeds related to the recent water damage will cover part of the immediate remediation work, the administration said.

Next steps: Staff will prepare a more detailed breakdown distinguishing code-required repairs from optional upgrades, provide bid or quote options for major items and offer scenarios for phased work; commissioners requested that information before approving any large contract.