Douglas County Commission to review plans for new public works facility

Douglas County commissioners will be asked Wednesday to give the final go-ahead on plans for a new public works facility to be built southeast of Lawrence on East 25th Street.

The project, which is now estimated to cost $13.9 million, would consolidate all of the Public Works Department operations into a single site.

Designers working on the project recently completed schematic drawings showing the basic layout of the proposed facility.

Plans for the facility include covered parking for county vehicles; a maintenance facility, storage space for rock, sand and chemicals; and a new administration building.

Overall, the new facility would give the department about 37 percent more room than it has now for parking, storage and operations. It would replace two separate facilities the department now occupies at 1242 Massachusetts St. and 723 E. 23rd St.

Commissioners are expected to authorize proceeding with the project. Last week, they authorized the sale of $15.2 million in sales tax revenue bonds, which included $9.5 million for the public works facility project. The rest of the cost would be paid from the county’s capital improvements plan budget, cash reserves and fuel tax revenues.

If commissioners agree to move forward, the next phase will be to come up with detailed specifications and blue prints. The tentative schedule calls for construction to begin around February 2014 and to be completed in early 2015.

In other business, commissioners will:

• Consider appointing Steven Miles to another four-year term as county appraiser.

• And consider waiving formal bid procedures by using a state contract with Mission Electronics Inc., for technology improvements in the Division II courtroom at a cost of $70,606.

Commissioners will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the county courthouse.