After an hour and 15-minute public hearing April 30, the Wright County Board of Commissioners voted, 4-1 to approve a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). 

 

The main component of the plan is construction of a new government center at an estimated cost of approximately $51.3 million and a law enforcement training facility at $6 million. 

 

The $60 million maximum principal amount authorized in the capital improvement plan has the capacity to account for up to $2.2 million of additional costs since the construction costs for both projects are not finalized.

 

More than 20 members of the public, some of them county employees, testified before the board. Many were in favor of the project, which would consolidate county departments into one location and provide enough space to expand for the growing population.

 

Other citizens were against spending more than $50 million on another county building. They felt it wasn’t the right time to take on another financial burden.

 

But some county employees pointed to the cost of being inefficient, like driving from the HHS department in the Pamida building on Hwy. 24 to the current government center to take care of business. Or the cost of transporting inmates from the jail to the courts.

 

Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said it wasn’t a good use of resources to remodel the current government center.

 

“Spending $20 million to remodel this facility, knowing you still have needs, and you’re going to be out of here in five or 10 years, I don’t believe that would be a wise decision,” he said. “You’re going to spend money regardless of the decision you make. I just ask you spend the money wisely.” 

 

Board Chair Darek Vetsch reminded the crowd  the county would still have major costs even if the board decided not to go forward with the new building.

 

“It’s important to note that whether we build this building or don’t build this building, people’s taxes are the same,” he said. “It’s just a matter of whether you’re using the money for a bond payment or using it to start making repairs on this building and saving for the future. The debt service funds are already included in the current budget.”

 

Commissioner Charles Borrell said he preferred the county  should save for the project like the townships do - not taking on more debt. He said he represents largely the agricultural area which is being highly taxed with declining income. 

 

Commissioner Mark Daleiden said he has struggled with the issue. But he was in favor of current low interest rates and he felt the project would eliminate inefficiencies.

 

“I hate inefficiencies, and right now all the multiple different buildings does make it inefficient for the departments and all the people going to the wrong buildings,” he said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve been here and people come and say, how do  I get to the jail to go visit somebody? The jail hasn’t been here in 10 years. Having everything in one location would be very convenient.”

 

Commissioner Christine Husom said all the commissioners talked about how it wouldn’t be wise to do a major renovation on the existing building, knowing they would eventually have to move.

 

“Studies show we will need 508 parking spaces. In the last 30 years, we’ve bought 11 properties in this area and torn down buildings,” she said. “Which ones would we have to buy and tear down if we want to stay here for five or 10 years?”

 

Commissioner Michael Potter said it was the board’s duty to spend money wisely and prepare for future growth. He said the bond interest is low and it will be the last major building project.

 

“We’re supposed to be the visionaries looking out for the long term for Wright County. We’re entrusted by the public to make decisions. If they don’t like what we do, they vote us out,” he said. “This county is going to have 200,000 people by 2040. We have to deal with that. We can’t kick every can down the road.”

 

He made a motion to approved the CIP. Husom seconded the motion. Potter, Husom, Vetsch and Daleiden voted in favor. Borrell voted against.

 

The board also had the opportunity to approve the issuance of $60 million in bonds to cover the cost of the project. Instead, they set a meeting with bond counsel for May 9.