ASHLAND — Ashland County’s building that houses its jobs and family services is slated for some renovation — but the estimated $300,000 project will have to wait until contractors want to take the job.
The Ashland County Board of Commissioners met in session Thursday to open bids for the renovation project planned for the Ashland County Job and Family Services building.
No bids arrived.
The project, estimated to cost around $300,000, involved renovating 3,400 square-feet of the Fourth Street building’s first floor to offer workers and clients a “warmer, welcoming area.”
JFS director Peter Stefaniuk said currently the department’s child custody staff of 25 is scattered throughout the building that was constructed in 1992. A new floor plan would allow that staff to be in one central space and could include up to 30 offices.
VSWC Architects was hired to design the concept for the project. Lauren Cameron, an interior designer at the firm, said the new space will be a better place to work for the staff.
“The concept of the design was to create a welcoming and warm environment that the case workers would be working in, as well as for the clients,” Cameron said.
Commissioner Denny Bittle described the building’s current space as “institutional” and “depressing.”
“Because of the job and the stress of their job, we wanted to kind of make it like they’re going home in their own living room — and make it way softer,” he said, adding the project is a “wonderful addition.”
Brad Adams, a partner at VSWC, said the lack of bids could be a result of global supply chain issues still reverberating from the COVID-19 pandemic. But the timing could be off, too.
“This would be an ideal winter project because it’s all indoor work,” Adams said.
Ashland County will most likely advertise for bids again in the near future.
