The Griggs County Commission on Aug. 29 approved purchasing a prebuilt 12-by-24 steel maintenance shed to replace cramped, potentially unsafe storage attached to the courthouse.

Chad, a county maintenance employee, told commissioners he located a steel, prebuilt shed that fits the county’s needs and said delivery should occur within a couple of weeks. He said a cheaper option existed but had doors and windows on the wrong side for the intended placement.

Commissioners discussed how to fund the purchase. County staff said $12,000 is available in the county maintenance budget and recommended using $4,000 from the general fund rather than tapping $100,000 in unrestricted American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Commissioners said the new shed will allow maintenance staff to store overflow items, place equipment off the ground, organize supplies on shelving and remove potentially hazardous items now kept in building maintenance rooms. Officials noted they found a weed whacker with fuel stored inside a maintenance room; staff said fuel and other flammables are unsafe next to furnaces and electrical panels.

Commissioner Lynn moved to purchase the shed using $12,000 from the maintenance budget and $4,000 from the general fund, leaving the county’s $100,000 in unrestricted ARPA funds untouched. Commissioner Zorn seconded the motion. The commission took a voice vote; named ayes were recorded and the motion carried. County staff estimated that using the $12,000 and $4,000 as proposed would leave roughly $120,000 in reserve.

The shed purchase replaces a small, roughly 8-by-10 storage area attached to the courthouse that staff described as inadequate. Maintenance staff said the new shed will also free space previously used as storage when the sheriff’s office reclaimed a room for its intended use.

County staff expect the prebuilt shed to arrive within a few weeks and said they will place and outfit it to meet the maintenance department’s storage needs.