Commissioners back using rural public facilities fund interest to fill sheriff storage building gap

Summary

The sheriff's office requested additional funding to complete a 60x100 foot storage building to consolidate long‑term evidence vehicles and high‑value equipment; bids and fees pushed the project estimate near $600,000. Finance staff said interest earnings from the Rural Public Facilities Fund could cover the remaining roughly $150,000, and the b

Brad Thurman (Speaker 13) outlined a proposed 60 by 100 ft storage building that would consolidate long‑term vehicle evidence and high‑value sheriff equipment. Initial bids came in at about $522,000; after permitting and fees the total rose toward $600,000. The board previously allocated $450,000 from capital projects; Thurman asked for solutions to reach the new estimate.

Kathy Funk Baxter, finance director, said the county's Rural Public Facilities Fund retains interest earnings that could be used to supplement the $450,000 allocation; she reported about $300,000 remaining in the fund and expressed comfort using interest earnings to fill the gap. Commissioners agreed to proceed using interest from that fund to move the project forward, noting the building would reduce ongoing private storage costs (Thurman cited $500 monthly savings in current private storage fees).