Commissioners approve bids to remove three houses and advance concept for new planning and zoning building

Wagoner County commissioners voted May 20 to move forward with soliciting bids to demolish three houses on lots across from the existing planning and zoning site and to continue work on concept drawings for a new planning and zoning facility.

County staff presented a conceptual proposal for a steel building to replace the current structures occupied by planning and zoning. The packet included a vendor estimate for a 60‑by‑80 metal shell priced at $95,020.85; staff said they had a rough slab and footing estimate of about $67,750 to get a slab ready for steel. Together with additional finishes and site work, staff estimated a shell‑plus‑slab starting in the neighborhood of $150,000–$160,000 for the basic building shell, though they emphasized those figures were ballpark projections and that no bid documents had been issued.

Staff described three lots across the street from the current building that would provide room for a new structure, with parking designed behind the building and handicap spaces facing Casper Street. Commissioners discussed the footprint and various internal layouts, including making the commissioners’ meeting room larger to allow dual use for planning and zoning meetings, training, or sheriff department presentations.

After discussion of scope and cost, a motion to solicit bids to demolish the three houses and haul debris off passed on roll call. Commissioners directed staff to continue developing concept drawings, consider a larger multi‑use commissioners’ meeting room that could serve planning and zoning needs, and return with more detailed drawings and cost estimates for future consideration.

No final construction contract was awarded at the meeting. Staff said they would refine the site plan and then open the demolition work and subsequent building work to competitive bids.