The Washington County Board of Supervisors discussed how to proceed with renovation projects for Orchard Hill Building #3 and the county attorney’s office during their recent meeting.

The board approved an agreement with Martin Gardner Architecture, PC to conduct a feasibility study for potentially moving the supervisors’ offices to that building at a cost of $6,000. County Attorney John Gish and County Engineer Jacob Thorius then presented a preliminary layout of how to remodel the current supervisor meeting room and other parts of the courthouse lower level to better accommodate the security needs of the attorney’s office. Gish, Thorius, and County Auditor Dan Widmer expressed their wish to seek a general contractor/project manager.

The supervisors and department heads discussed what action should proceed next, and Board Chair Richard Young asked whether a contractor would be interested in handling both projects. Thorius said that could be possible, but it would also change bidding requirements, as the current dollar amount for the attorney’s office renovation is below the amount required for a formal bid letting. Gish expressed his patience for this project, “Not an ideal occupational space but it’s been that way for a couple of decades, and I know other department heads in the courthouse manage similar issues. So it wouldn’t be a big ask of the board to have me wait for remodels until the supervisor space is all complete.”

The supervisors directed Gish and Thorius to further develop their designs and possibly seek an interested contractor. Much of the attorney’s office project will be funded by revenue from the office’s collections program.