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Facilities director reviews 2024 projects and a slate of 2025 grant‑funded upgrades including solar and courthouse remodels
Summary
Facilities Director Brian Griff reviewed completed 2024 projects (fairgrounds RV park phase 1, jail generator and interior remodels), and presented multiple 2025 grant awards and pending grants for solar installations across county buildings, courthouse third‑floor remodel funded by ARPA, and other building upgrades.
Brian Griff, director of facility services, reviewed 2024 work and a set of 2025 priorities on March 3, highlighting completed projects at the State Fair Park and several county buildings, and summarizing a large set of grant awards for building‑scale solar installs and other capital work.
Major 2024 completions: Griff reported that the county closed a $10.5 million bond program that paid for projects at the Fair Park, including a rebuilt RV park (phase 1) and restroom upgrades tied to a Department of Agriculture grant. He also said the county completed a replacement generator at the main jail and relocated video visiting into the jail facility.
Pending and awarded grants: Griff said the county has multiple Department of Commerce and other grant awards pending and under contract for solar panel installations and building upgrades. He said Ellensburg Solar was the apparent low bidder to install roughly 2,400 panels across ten county buildings and that award will come to the board on March 11. He described six separate Commerce solar grants covering the courthouse complex, juvenile justice, the resource center, County Roads, and other county facilities. Griff said the courthouse third‑floor remodel is in active construction under an ARPA‑funded contract and may finish ahead of schedule if current progress continues.
Other building work: Griff said the facilities team has completed in‑house upgrades—juvenile hydronic valve replacements expected to reduce heating gas use, YAC irrigation repairs to cut water costs, crime lab and district court remodels done primarily in‑house to reduce prevailing‑wage costs, and generator and fire‑panel upgrades. He also said he is pursuing a reappropriation to preserve a historic courthouse window grant and is working on a federal appropriations request for an emergency operations/resource center remodel.
Grants and next steps: Griff listed 11 active grants (client/federal/state) and said he is managing those contracts and will present solar contract awards to the board on March 11. He asked commissioners to expect contract actions and confirmed facilities will continue to pursue external funding to avoid using limited county capital reserves where possible.
Commissioners thanked Griff for the grant work and for completing projects in‑house when feasible. Griff said he will follow up with the board on reappropriation needs and keep commissioners informed about contract awards scheduled for the March 11 agenda.
