New county project manager outlines five‑year capital plan and push for preventive maintenance

Budget committee members heard from Brian Baldwin and newly hired project manager Travis Brooks about a restructured approach to county buildings and capital work. Baldwin said the county has split general services into project management and maintenance; Brooks, the new project manager and an architect, described a countywide survey of buildings and a push to prioritize building envelopes (roofs, doors, windows) and high‑cost systems (HVAC, plumbing) to reduce emergency spending.

Baldwin said the county is shifting funds from emergency reaction to up‑front planning and materials testing to speed future projects and reduce surprises. Brooks outlined standardization goals — consistent finishes and asset documentation — so maintenance can replace components without chasing decades‑old specifications. Baldwin cited a recent elevator repair achieved by leveraging a vendor-supplied reclaimed part and charging only labor as an example of savings achieved by better project oversight.

The presentation introduced a five‑year capital plan assembled after building audits and meetings with department heads; commissioners endorsed the approach and directed staff to continue refining prioritization and lifecycle planning. No formal budget action was taken at the workshop.