The Pulaski County Commissioners discussed their upcoming second round of bid opening for the courthouse project during their meeting Monday.
In a previous story, Pulaski County Community Development Commission (CDC) Executive Director Nathan Origer announced the original bids received for the courthouse project came in about $3.5 million over where the county needed them to be. It was noted there are several commissioners and council members interested in knowing if the county could save money by constructing a new building instead of refurbishing the courthouse.
During a previous Pulaski County Council meeting, Executive Director Origer suggested the council wait on making a decision until the second round of bids are opened at their special session Monday. He added the county has incurred more costs since putting several categories out to re-bid. He said at this time, the county has spent $1,240,248.27 on everything from architects to legal council, financial consultants, document scanning, movers and exploratory excavation of the courthouse wall. Origer stated of that $1.24 million, $1.125 million would be lost operational revenues that would not be reimbursable if the commissioners and council decided not to approve the additional appropriation of $12,750,000 for the courthouse project in its entirety. It was also noted before the courthouse project began, the county previously spent between $500,000 and $750,000 on a new elevator and some roof stabilization within the attic of the courthouse.
Origer said if the bids are over the county’s budget for a second time, it would then call for a serious reconsideration of all options. The special session to open the second round of bids is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 8 at the Pulaski County Highway Garage at 1131 N. U.S. 35 in Winamac.
