John Melvin, Delaware County's director of facilities, gave commissioners a project-by-project update on capital work the county plans to fund or advance in 2026.

Melvin said the Social Services/Shared Services administration building is moving through site and design work with Gilbane as construction manager at risk and consultants MSA and Pizzuti working on the preengineered metal building and site work. "Our goal is December 1 to have that before the board for legislation," Melvin told the board and said the administration has a work session scheduled for Dec. 8 for a fuller update.

The county recently awarded the Willis Building renovation bid and scheduled a construction kickoff meeting; Melvin said the first phase will repurpose a former big-lot area into a new warehouse, conference space and voter training area and aims to complete that phase before May.

Melvin reviewed other facility priorities funded from the permanent improvement fund, including jail roof and HVAC replacement, HVAC improvements at the Carnegie Building, courthouse carpet replacement and routine parking-lot and sidewalk maintenance. He said the 2026 transfers to other funds are lower because the county performed larger transfers in recent years to support facility work.

For the jail, Melvin said schematic design is complete for overall renovations and that staff will return with contract amendments for detailed design and phased construction documents. He also said the county has posted a request for qualifications for a design team for a combined EMS Station 3 and sheriff's substation to consolidate operations and that construction timing will depend on design outcomes and related approvals.

Commissioners praised the maintenance work and asked clarifying questions about project timing; Melvin said bids for site work recently arrived and called the Willis Building contractor ready to start construction. No formal actions or votes were taken during the presentation.