Commissioners adjust CIP: delay emergency services design, add $150,000 for county facilities assessment

Person County commissioners on April 21 revised the county’s recommended five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP), removing a $430,200 allocation for design work on a new emergency services facility in fiscal 2026 and adding a $150,000 placeholder to fund a comprehensive county facilities assessment.

County Manager Catherine Kathy and staff presented the recommended CIP and reported follow-up conversations with departments. Staff said a comprehensive facilities assessment — including space needs, building conditions and capital funding planning — would help prioritize competing capital projects across the county. Multiple commissioners said an assessment (estimated by staff at roughly $150,000) would create a roadmap for future decisions and could prevent premature investment in a single large project on county‑owned land.

Commissioner Webber moved to reduce the general-fund contribution in next year’s CIP by the difference between the removed $430,200 and the $150,000 assessment placeholder. The motion passed. Staff clarified that the splash‑pad project currently shown in year two of the CIP remains in the plan; commissioners discussed whether a splash pad alone would meet public demand for water‑based recreation after multiple public commenters requested a public pool. Staff noted the CIP presentation did not commit year‑two funding and that ARPA dollars could be considered for future water‑recreation projects.

Commissioners urged further study of public‑water amenities and whether grant funding could be leveraged. The board approved the CIP amendment as presented, with staff to continue work on a facilities assessment and to include splash‑pad/pool considerations in ongoing planning.