Dinwiddie board approves A&E contract for courthouse study and signals intent to borrow for renovation

The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to award architecture and engineering services to HBA Architecture to perform a facilities condition assessment and department space‑needs study for the county courthouse.

County administrative staff told the board the courthouse, built or renovated in 1996, is approaching 30 years old and has experienced recurring plumbing and HVAC issues. The contract approved covers tasks 1–5 to assess the building and define departmental needs; staff said about $213,000 in FY2026 capital improvement funds could be used to begin the work but that a full renovation will likely require borrowing.

County Administrator Kevin Massengill and staff described the next step as a site and condition assessment followed by recommendations on scope and cost. To preserve future borrowing options, the board also adopted a customary resolution of intent to reimburse project expenditures from future bond proceeds, allowing the county to spend up front and later reimburse those expenditures from bond proceeds when the borrowing is finalized.

Board members asked questions about project scope and the committee process that recommended HBA. The motion to approve the contract passed on a roll‑call vote with all members voting aye.

The county will return to the board with the assessment results, proposed project costs and a borrowing schedule; staff advised that actual bond amounts will be determined after tasks 1–5 are complete.