Allen County commissioners back $17 million courthouse renovation budget

The Allen County Board of Commissioners agreed on Aug. 13 to move forward with a proposed $17 million budget for a courthouse renovation. Commissioner Beth Seibert said she and Building and Grounds representative Jason Patchet will participate in interviews of potential design firms and that the $17 million figure will be shared with the review committee and prospective firms.

Jason Patchet reported several Government Center follow-ups tied to the renovation and other county projects. He said final inspections for the Government Center failed the radio-communications portion of the fire marshal's review; county staff are arranging for a cell booster and possibly a repeater to address the issue. Patchet also noted plans to order a safe for the Treasurer's Office, consider placement of a dedication plaque at the Government Center, and evaluate exterior drop-box options for the Treasurer and Veterans Service Commission offices. Patchet told the board the contractor offered to install epoxy flooring in the Building and Grounds workspace at no additional cost because the chosen carpet was on backorder, and commissioners approved that option.

Why it matters: The renovation budget and related work affect the county's capital program and the timing of Government Center occupancy and operations. The board's decision to advance the budget moves the project into the design-selection phase, which will determine scope and schedule.