Washington County Commissioners have approved more than $40 million in contracts for a new public safety building.
The now demolished Courthouse Square, which opened in 1979 had one issue after another. The six-floor building housed the Sheriff's Office, County Commissioners and more.
“Shifting, moving, there were continuous problems with this building,” said Commission Chairman Nick Sherman.
Sherman says then about ten years ago an engineering study found problems with the membrane and rather than getting it fixed, the commissioners at the time allowed it to get even worse, with chunks of cement falling from the building onto cars below.
“This is not something we got it and said we would love to build this new building, we’d love to spend taxpayer money, but we were left with no choice but to demo this building and to have a new home for public safety,” added Sherman.
Commissioner Larry Maggi raised concerns about building on a site that has pyrite underneath, but Sherman says steps were taken to secure the walls around it to minimize the dangers that water damage could cause to the foundation.
Vice Chair Electra Janis says she understands concerns about the cost of the project, but adds the project is an investment in the safety, reliability and emergency preparedness that residents deserve.
