County staff report progress on 9‑1‑1 dispatch remodel, elevator fixes and fairgrounds flood control

Marquette County facilities staff told the county committee on Jan. 8 that the 9‑1‑1 dispatch center remodel is nearing completion, elevator state inspection is scheduled and several in‑house projects saved the county money.

Facilities staff said a punch‑list walkthrough with contractor Holtz and Excel Engineering produced only minor items to be completed this week and that Zybex began installing furniture for new dispatch cubicles while Bacom is expected to install computer and radio equipment by the end of next week. Staff noted access controls will be split so the jail controls internal jail doors and dispatch controls exterior exit doors.

On the courthouse elevator, staff reported an inspection is scheduled for Friday at noon and described earlier delays caused by a fire‑alarm contractor who failed to appear for inspection work. "We failed the state inspection because the fire alarm wasn't ready to go," an unidentified facilities staff member said; the county canceled that contractor and arranged new oversight and expected only a single heat detector issue to remain before clearance.

Staff described a December problem with a rooftop HVAC unit serving the courtroom, saying airflow issues and slow temperature recovery prompted attention to RTU‑5. "That was the one that serves the courtroom…we were having airflow issues into the courtroom at that time," the staff member said, explaining why the unit drew questions during the vouchers review.

At the Health & Human Services building, staff said they bid the fire‑alarm parts but performed the installation in house, saving about $20,000 compared with contracting the full job. "By us doing the work, it saved about $20,000," the staff member said.

At the fairgrounds, crews installed 6‑inch gutters over show‑barn walkways, the small animal barn and round‑barn entrances to divert runoff and reduce flooding that in prior years left standing water on show‑barn floors. Staff said the gutters will capture a significant portion of stormwater that previously pooled during heavy rains.

Staff also summarized year‑end workload: about 3,400 work orders opened last year versus roughly 3,000 the prior year. They said keeping electrician and trades work in house reduced the need to outsource an estimated $300,000 of work; staff salaries for those positions were reported at about $254,000. The facilities director said the staffing and in‑house skills were important to cost containment and said similar projects are planned for 2026, including additional rooftop‑unit replacements and interior wayfinding work in the courthouse.

Committee members asked clarifying questions, were shown timelines for when spaces would be available for meetings (tentatively February) and expressed thanks for the cost savings and responsiveness; no formal action was taken on these reports. The meeting adjourned after the reports.