By JON ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Renovations to the Ellis County offices at 601 Main Street will begin soon after the Public Building Commission (PBC) awarded a bid for remodel to Paul-Wertenberger Construction of Hays.
The commission approved the base bid and two alternates for a total $287,500. The bid from Paul-Wertenberger Construction was the lowest bid submitted.
Currently the Ellis County Health Department and Kansas State Research and Extension are housed in the building at 601 Main St. but with the health department set to move to 2507 Canterbury Drive, the Extension District will be the sole occupant of the building.
In 2013 the PBC issued bonds to remodel the Administrative Center at 718 Main and 601 Main was also covered under the bonds. Storm drainage is the main issue that needs addressed with the remodel at 601.
According to County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, the PBC has $267,000 for the remodel and Ellis County has an additional $30,000 budgeted in 2018 to pay for improvements.
Alternate one is removing and installing new carpet in the Extension side of the building. Alternate number two includes removing and installing new floor tile in the meeting room.
Commission member Barb Wasinger moved in favor of approving the bid with two alterntes and said the work needs to be done.
“That building has been neglected for a very long time,” said Wasinger.
Under the agreement Paul-Wertenberger Construction will have 90 days to complete the project. Smith-Hanes said he anticipated have a contract for the commission to sign at next week’s meeting.
As the Ellis County Commission, they approved a five-year jail maintenance contract with CLM Security of Erie, Colorado, for $57,617.50
In other business, commissioners:
- Appointed Jane Wagner to Victoria Township Clerk
- Approved the sale of surplus county property on Purple Wave Auction
- Approved the 2017 Noxious Weed Report and accepted the 2018 plan
- Selected KPERS/Empower Retirement as the county’s sole provider of payroll deduction deferred compensation
- Gave the go-ahead to create a nine-member Wage and Benefit Committee for Ellis County employees