County staff flag space shortages, large HVAC estimate and FEMA edits to hazard mitigation plan

Ashland County staff told the Public Property and Law Enforcement Committee on April 28 that a space‑needs study has identified multiple cramped offices, the sheriff’s HVAC replacement will require engineering quotes and a countywide funding decision, and FEMA has asked the county to remove references to global warming from its hazard mitigation plan.

Dan (role/title not specified), who briefed the committee on the space‑needs study, said the architects are midway through work and will present a full briefing to the full county board the following day. "There are several offices that are just way too crowded. The worst example is, the DA's office. They're literally sitting on top of each other up there," Dan said. He listed other space pressures in Health and Human Services and the surveyor’s office.

Dan said clerk records present long‑term storage problems: "She’s statutorily required to keep records forever... we're running out of space for a lot of that stuff." Committee members asked about digitization; staff said some records are already digitized and that training is available for further work.

Facilities staff (David) reported near‑term maintenance items: an elevator update planned to begin May 19 with the elevator out of service for about three weeks as estimated by contractors, a feed‑water tank for the boiler that was temporarily patched and scheduled for replacement, and roof shingle/tab losses that remain unresolved.

On the sheriff’s HVAC project, staff said two bidders proposed full replacements while Johnson Controls recommended a partial approach to retain functioning components and save cost. The county is awaiting a third quote and must hire an engineer to produce blueprints and final specifications. "When a final quote comes in, the entire county board will have to approve it... it's gonna be in the hundreds of thousands, if not half million dollar plus range," a county staffer said.

The committee also discussed options for storage and evidence handling. Dan described a potential pole‑shed at the highway department behind a locked gate to store property and towed vehicles as one lower‑cost option.

Emergency management director Christina said FEMA returned the county’s hazard mitigation plan and requested removal of references to climate change. "FEMA wants us to take out anything that has to do with, like, global warming," she said. Christina said Northwest Regional Planning is working to remove those sections so the plan can proceed through federal review.

The committee approved the meeting minutes from Sept. 30 and elected Jim as vice chair by voice vote; neither item changed program policy. No formal vote was taken on the HVAC work at this meeting; staff said the finance committee will review engineering costs before a boardwide vote.

The committee scheduled its next meeting for July 28 at 4 p.m.