ASHLAND — Ashland County’s second administration building may be constructed for about $900,000 less than the originally estimated $7 million project cost.
The Ashland County Board of Commissioners on Thursday accepted a $6,532,000 base bid for the project from Wooster-based Campbell Construction — which includes an optional $405,300 cost reduction.
The cost reduction would come into play should commissioners choose to alter the project’s scope, specifically related to an existing underground (water) detention system on the 345 Cottage St. property — the future site of the new building.
Precast concrete vaults are what exist underground currently. Brad Adams, owner of VSWC Architects, previously said other functional systems exist that could replace the concrete vaults — such as polyethylene or plastic culverts.
The board is still weighing its decision on the option, but Commissioner Denny Bittle on Thursday said project plans are currently being reengineered to modify the underground detention system.
“We’ll definitely be going in that direction,” Bittle said in regards to altering the project.
That means the project would cost about $6.1 million.
Campbell Construction was the apparent low bidder on Feb. 12 during the bid opening for the project. Out of the 12 bids submitted, four — including Campbell’s — came in under the $7 million estimate.
New building details
The new building will be on a 1.6-acre lot at the corner of Cottage and Fourth streets near downtown Ashland — formerly the site of the old Ashland Middle School.
It will house relocated offices for several county departments, including the auditor’s office, treasurer’s office, recorder’s office and tax map office — which are all currently located inside the Ashland County Courthouse.
The total building area will be around 13,000 square feet, Adams said earlier in February.
Construction is estimated to begin between March and April of this year and finish by March 2027.
Ashland County Commissioner Michael Welch cleared up any confusion regarding whether or not commissioners would be moving to the second administration building.
“We kind of like it where we’re at,” Welch said with a smile. “And we need to be close to where the prosecutor’s office is.”
Once the auditor’s, treasurer’s, recorder’s and tax map offices are moved into the new building, Welch said it will allow the county to redo portions of its courthouse.
“I know it’s been requested on a couple different timetables throughout the last 30 years about expanding juvenile court. They do have a very small courtroom in there,” he said.
“It’s (future courthouse renovations) also going to allow us to bring probation into the building,” Welch said.
