Franklin County commissioners voted to sign a public-works contract with MH Construction Inc. for construction of a new coroner facility and to obligate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover a $290,000 shortfall, approving Resolution 2024-0338 by voice vote.

The contract was presented by Curtis McGarry, coroner, who said the county received four responsive bids after bids were opened Dec. 18, 2024, and that the winning bid was from MH Construction of Pasco. "The amount of the shortfall is $290,000," McGarry told the board, adding the project has been designed by Meyer Architect and Engineering and that permits were submitted to the city of Pasco. He said the county could recoup some money later by leasing the finished building.

Why it matters: The board debated whether to obligate the remaining ARPA dollars for the morgue building or instead use them for emergency-radio equipment. County officials said unallocated ARPA funds must be obligated to a specific purpose or returned to the federal government.

During the meeting, Jeff Briggs of the prosecutor's office said he had reviewed the contract and that "it looks fine; it's our standard public-works contract." Briggs and other staff noted that an agreement in place would meet the ARPA requirement to obligate funds because a signed contract constitutes an obligation under the ARPA rules.

Commissioners and staff discussed finances and alternatives. Commissioner Mullen warned, "We're $290,000 short on this and we're going to have to bring those funds out of something else in order to make this work," and expressed concern about broader county liquidity and possible future cost overruns. The county auditor, identified as Auditor Beaton, told the board staff "neither support nor oppose this" project but emphasized that his office did not recommend using reserve or liquidity to cover the shortfall and warned of tight cashflow going into 2025.

McGarry and other supporters argued delaying the project would raise costs. McGarry presented cost comparisons, saying the morgue bid equates to about $545 per square foot for a new 1,560-square-foot building and comparing that to a remodel project he cited at roughly $764 per square foot. He said rebidding or redesign later would likely increase the county's outlay: "If we don't do this today, the $290,000 that the county would be putting out would probably increase to ... well over $1,000,000 to maybe even $1,500,000."

The board also discussed the option of obligating the same ARPA funds to a separate interlocal agreement for emergency radios; staff said both the radios interlocal agreement and the construction contract would qualify as obligations under the ARPA rules. Eric Johnson, a county staff member not present at the meeting, had provided a memo outlining the options, according to staff statements at the meeting.

After discussion, a motion to approve Resolution 2024-0338 — the public-works contract between Franklin County and MH Construction Inc. — was made and seconded. The board recorded three affirmative responses and the motion passed. County staff said the contract had already been signed by MH Construction and reviewed by the county legal department.

The resolution obligates remaining ARPA funds to the construction contract and authorizes drawing the shortfall from county accounts; staff recommended using the courthouse expansion fund (which they said had roughly $259,000 available) and the contingency fund to cover the remainder. Supporters said future lease revenue from the facility could reimburse whichever fund the board directs.

The meeting concluded with the board approving the contract and adjourning. Next steps discussed were finalizing the contract signature, executing funding transfers per the board's direction, and proceeding with construction-permit processes. The county did not specify a construction start date or a projected completion date during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2024-0338 — approve and sign public-works contract with MH Construction Inc. to construct a coroner/morgue building; outcome: approved by voice vote; tally: three ayes; no recorded named nays.