County finances: Loans shifted & courthouse payment approved

The commissioners voted 3-0 to back Commissioner Brad Close’s plan to pay off both the Sheriff’s Law office loan, and the 911 equipment loan from the county’s Revolving Infrastructure fund and its Fire Recovery Fund.

The building loan balance was $57,700 as of January 26. That loan paid for the purchase of the former post office building, which now houses the Sheriff’s Department.

The 911 equipment loan, in the amount of $213,118, paid for the CAD system in the 911 building.

The 911 board will repay that loan directly to the county over 36 months at 4.375%. By shifting the loan to the county, more than $15,000 in interest will be paid back into county funds rather than to CNB Bank over the remainder of the loan, according to Close.

Those payoffs mean the county has no more debt, beyond its repayment of the courthouse loan.

Construction payment
In other financial matters, the commissioners approved a $100,583 payment to Milestone Construction, general contractors of the courthouse project.
A final $30,000 retainer is still being held. The architecture firm Silling & Associates will come to the site to verify completion and release that retainer, said County Administrator Jody McClintock.

Commission President Stacy Dugan asked if the building’s
geothermal system was included in consideration of the final payment.
Problems with the geothermal intake have prevented the system from functioning to heat or cool the building.

“It should be up and running and its not,” said Dugan.

McClintock said engineering firm GAI agreed to redesign the intake and outflows so the system could work. The county will have to pay for materials to build a new intake screen and outflow unit.

Close said the architect should be made aware that the county paid a $5,000 permitting fee for the geothermal system, and has yet to use the system or realize any cost-savings from it.

McClintock said a phone call to the architect would the most effective means of moving the issue toward resolution.

The motion to pay Milestone Construction included a request that they provide a letter stating they will cover any mechanical issues through July.