Pulaski County’s newest government building is costing more than originally thought. Last year, the county purchased the former Winamac Masonic Lodge and has since converted it into the West Annex, housing the Coroner’s Office and Emergency Management Agency.
But during last week’s county council meeting, Maintenance Director Mia Salyers presented a list of several improvements that were missed in the initial work. “They were on the list of things to be done, and I know that we were given $20,000 to do all of these things, but with moving the morgue and adding a new cooling unit for that, the generators, and the work that they had done inside the building, it took up that $20,000, and this is what was left yet to be done,” Salyers explained.
Council members ended up narrowing the list of seven projects down to three. They will include installing a fence around the new generators and the morgue’s cooling unit to protect them from vandalism, along with repairs to the building’s heating and cooling system. “They really didn’t know that there was an issue with the HVAC until they had to start running the air conditioning units,” Salyers added. “All three motors for all three sets of louvers don’t work, so the temperature in the coldest room in that whole building actually cools the entire place, and [EMA Director] Sheri [Gaillard] is freezing to death.”
Also on the list is the installation of an OSHA-mandated shower for the Coroner’s Office. The project finally got the approval of the county commissioners this week, after they twice requested more information. Action Plumbing will do the work for $1,900, but Salyers noted that her staff will have to install a half-wall on each side of the shower.
Council members decided to hold off on the other projects, like new windows, landscaping, and an awning over the EMA entrance. They also directed Salyers to do some more research before approving gutter work.
The cost of the approved projects came out to almost $3,600. Council members voted to advertise an additional appropriation out of the Riverboat Fund for future consideration, with Mike Tiede opposing. He expressed concern that the Coroner’s Office had only gotten one quote for the shower installation.
