Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

DAVENPORT, Ia. (KWQC) - Kathleen and Rick Thomas have lived in their Davenport home for 20 years and try to keep up with ongoing maintenance projects and improvements. The couple said they choose one project to complete each year and this year decided to replace old and broken windows.

"We had broken glass so we had to put plastic and tape over it," Kathleen said. "We have another window in the basement that has come loose for whatever reason, it's just kind of sitting in the frame."

Over the last year bubble wrap has protected the broken window, but Kathleen said hot and cold air still draft through depending on the season. In February the couple said they signed a $1,400 contract with Tri-State Siding and Windows to replace the old ones. At that time, the they paid 50 percent. According to the contract, it takes 6-8 weeks for materials to arrive and another five days for installation. After that time period had passed, Kathleen said she tried to contact the company multiple times with little or no response.

"[I was] frustrated that I couldn't get any response from anyone and I called the office at one point and nobody was ever at the office," Kathleen said. "I left messages and finally I left a message with the office and the cell phone of the owner."

Kathleen said she called the company 25 times and received one phone call and a text message saying installation would be delayed. After multiple phone calls the couple reached out to TV6 for assistance. TV6 was able to make contact with Tri-State Windows and Siding. Owner, Andrew Sallee blames lack of communication, weather and a backlog of orders for the delay.

"We apologize this is not our normal way of business and I understand as a homeowner that their home is their largest investment," Sallee said. "That customer is our reputation and we dropped the ball on communication and we are going to fix that."

When TV6 approached Sallee he pledged to install the Thomas' windows by Wednesday free of charge. Sallee said he is on the customer's side and is in the process of making changes to internal operations to avoid having another order neglected. Meantime, the Thomas' said they are both weary and anxious for installation.

"Let's just get it done I am not going to complain to them, just get it done that's all we want."

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Davenport homeowners waiting on windows ordered four months ago - KWQC-TV6

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

King of Prussia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/19/2017 -- Summer is here, which means the weather is getting warmer. The warmer weather presents the perfect opportunity for any homeowner to get to home improvement projects that were put off during the winter. Anyone looking for reliable roofers in West Chester, PA should look no further than the experienced team at G. Cannon Roofing and Siding.

First impressions are important, and G. Cannon Roofing and Siding can help homeowners' roofs appeal to guests and neighbors. For every project they work on, they use attention to detail, and quality products and craftsmanship.

Protecting a home from Mother Nature is key, and that is why installing a new roof is a stellar option this summer. G. Cannon Roofing and Siding can help make a home look beautiful, as well as make sure it can stand up to elements. There are many different choices for homeowners to pick from, such as asphalt, wood, tile, metal, composite and much more.

Whether someone is looking for a brand new roof or wants to rehab their current one, G. Cannon Roofing and Siding has a full-service crew that can handle anything thrown their way. They go beyond the basics, which is why they are replacing other companies roofs in a few years, not the other way around. On top of giving homeowners a new quality roof with quick installation, G. Cannon Roofing and Siding also provides extended warranties and great customer service.

The clear choice for roofers in Springfield, PA is G. Cannon Roofing and Siding. Anyone interested in their services should call 484-653-5800 or visit http://cannonroofingandsiding.com/.

About G. Cannon Roofing and Siding G. Cannon Roofing and Siding performs roofing installations, maintenance and repairs throughout Southeastern, PA. The company won the 2012 GAF Training Excellence Award for their intensive training process for all employees. By continuously upgrading their materials and industry knowledge, G. Cannon Roofing and Siding provides the most reliable service in the area.

For more information, visit http://www.cannonroofingandsiding.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/g-cannon-roofing-and-siding-can-install-new-roofs-this-summer-822463.htm

Original post:
G. Cannon Roofing and Siding Can Install New Roofs This Summer - Digital Journal

Civic Center Presents Interesting Opportunities

by Reed Anfinson Publisher, Swift County Monitor-News

With CNH moving out of the north end of the Civic Center in October, Benson Public Schools have an opportunity to provide its sports programs with new facilities that serve not only students, but also the community at large.

Over the past several years, the school board has looked at multiple options to expand the gymnasium space it has with little success. Voters have rejected plans that would have seen new facilities constructed and show little appetite at this time for approving the construction of new buildings.

Further, its space for student gym classes and sports programs has been shrinking lately. Even though the City of Benson has put on hold indefinitely plans to renovate the city-owned Amory for new city office space, that plan is still on the table and could be brought back in the relatively near future.

The school board is right to be anxious about where it will find space for the gymnastics program if it doesnt have the Amory. An earlier search found no viable solutions. It also has concerns about the safety of the cramped space it already uses in the Armory gymnasium. Once a public body expresses publically its concern about the safety of a facility it is using, it had better make sure it addresses those safety concerns or it has a poor case should it find itself in court. The school district also finds itself short of space today because the Junior High School auditorium is now shut down. A small section of the ceiling fell onto a seating area in April. The school board is conducting a thorough study of the ceiling, roof and buildings overall structural integrity. Monday night it approved bringing in a company to do infrared scans that can give architects a better idea of just how solid, or degraded, the building is. It wants that report to help it decide how to move forward.

Whatever the decision, it is highly likely the auditorium will be out of commission for at least the 2017-2018 school year.

Bensons Civic Center already houses the high school hockey program and is open for general public use as well. It has locker rooms, public bathrooms and a concession stand. School Board Member Bill McGeary, who also works with the hockey program, said it is willing to share all its facilities with school if the north end of the Civic Center is renovated for high school sports.

There will be costs to renovating the north end of the Civic Center taking if from industrial use to a public space for sports and spectators. The concrete floor is uneven and has raised concrete slabs that once were used to anchor industrial equipment. The lighting system is geared to warehouse use not a gymnasium. Overhead doors will have to be removed with siding installed. The heating system needs a thermostat system to better regulate the heat in the building. The sprinkler system may need upgrading.

Already the City of Benson is investing $130,000 in a new roof for the north end of the Civic Center. It also has about $90,000 left to pay on work to improvements to the south side that saw the installation of an air handler system and insulation. In the past, it has used the $39,500 annual payment it receives from CNH to pay for improvements to the building. CNH has also paid property taxes on the space it uses. With the company now leaving, the city, hockey program and school will have to figure out how the payments are going to be made. Still, the opening of the north end of the Civic Center represents some real opportunities for the community that should be pursued.

Some readers of the Monitor-News will notice that we bylined all the major stories were wrote this week. The bylines were in response to several people asking us exactly what we did at the Monitor-News, not knowing that we cover the Swift County Board of Commissioners, Benson City Council, District 777 Board of Education and the Swift County-Benson Health Services meetings. We write features stories, court stories, weather stories and take many news photos. We also pick the weeds out of the front sidewalk, try fix the roof when it is leaking, pay the bills and do the payroll.

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Civic Center Presents Interesting Opportunities - Swift County Monitor

Chris Green Staff writer @chrisfgreen

STILLMAN VALLEY Tornado, straight-line winds, microburst.

Toby Behmer, 35,doesn't know how meteorologists will classify the fast-moving wind and rain-pounding storm that leveled buildings, uprooted trees and brought down a string of electrical linesSaturday afternoon in northern Ogle County. He just knows thestormwas frightening and the damage leftin its wake wasdevastating.

"We had three buildings significantly damaged and one ripped off the foundation," he said of the farm structures.

Sunday, more than 100 friends, neighbors and family members stopped by throughout the day to operate several pieces of earthmoving equipment on the North StillmanRoad corn and soybean farm. Theyused the tractorsto pick up and pilelarge pieces of twisted metalsiding,roofing and installation.

Behmer, afifth-generation farmer,was at a lost forhow to go about finishing what Mother Nature started demolishinga heavily damaged140- by 80-foot machine shedwithout damaging the machineryinside of it.

"I don't know where to start," he said. "We have claims going with insurance. The federal crop insurance should kick in. ... Other than that, I guess we'll find out more tomorrow."

Pointing to what used to be a greenhouse, Behmer saidabout 250 tomatoand200 pepper plantshad beengrowing there sinceMarch."They were really close to having produce on them," he said. "That's all leveled now."

Like in most farming communities, thestorm's worstbrought out the bestin Behmer'sfamily, friends and neighbors.

"I put on Facebook this morning that I was extremely proud to live in Stillman Valley," he said. "This is really heartwarming. I get pretty emotional about things like this. When you get outpouring of support like this you never want to leave. You want to be around people like this for the rest of your life. It's awesome."

National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Ratzer said weather officials have been in contact with area storm chasers and do not believe Saturday's storm was a tornado.

"We're pretty sure it was straight-linewinds or a microburst," he said. "The core of the stormcollapsed, andwe're not aware of any wind rotation."

Chris Green:815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

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A storm's worst brings out the best in Stillman Valley residents - Rockford Register Star

HAZLETON The citys zoning board granted a special exception to a developer who wants to build 24 apartment units in a wooded area near East Street and Berner Avenue on the Hazleton Heights.

John Caputo cleared the first hurdle of the approval process for his plan to construct four buildings that will house six garden apartments each on a parcel bound by Berner Avenue, Carleton Avenue, East Street and property that houses a former naval reserve building.

Zoning board Chairman Michael Pozzessere teamed with board members John Paletski and Bob Hoegg when voting unanimously on Thursday for approving the special exception sought by Caputo.

Caputo must next secure approval from the city planning commission, which Pozzessere said will address concerns raised by four people who attended the hearing and raised concerns about storm water drainage and displacement of wildlife.

In his original application filed with code enforcement, Caputo sought approval for a height variance for the three-story apartment buildings but Zoning Officer Charles Pedri said Thursday that setbacks are adequate enough to render the height variance unnecessary.

The zoning board was subsequently tasked with acting only on the special exception.

Caputo testified that the apartment buildings will be built in phases, with the first constructed at East Street and Berner Avenue.

That three-story building will house six apartment units, with two on each floor, he said.

Each unit will have two bedrooms, as well as a kitchen and living and dining rooms, he said.

Caputo said he plans to cater to the same type of tenants who live in apartments that he owns near Heights-Terrace Elementary/Middle School who are generally retirees and widows.

The apartments proposed for East Street and Berner Avenue are not affiliated with government-subsidized housing, though Caputo said he had no problems with a 70-year-old tenant who qualified for assistance at a different apartment building that he owns.

The buildings will be built in phases, depending on the availability of tenants, Caputo said.

They will likely be built with a brick on the front and siding installed on the sides, with the buildings fronting Berner and Carleton avenues, he said.

Caputo said he will comply with the zoning ordinance and offer two parking spaces for each apartment unit. He plans to offer 12, 9-foot wide spaces for the first building that will give tenants the ability to park head inat the front of each building, he said.

Four people addressed the proposal Thursday. They include Vincent Fayock, Maria Jacketti, Susan Notaro and William Letcher.

Jacketti said that she didnt necessarily attend in protest of Caputos plans, but sought clarification from Caputo about the potential for the apartments providing a haven for crime and drug activity, and displacement of wildlife. Letcher also raised questions for the potential for increased crime.

Caputo said the terms of his lease simply wont lead to an increase in criminal activity. He referenced his track record at other apartment complexes he owns when making his point.

Displacement of animals, meanwhile, is an issue for the planning commission to consider, Pedri noted.

Fayock, meanwhile, asked why the apartment buildings couldnt be designed with a two-story plan and how construction will impact an endangered species of wildflowers that grow on the land.

Caputo said that the rent that he would charge wouldnt justify costs of accommodating 24 units in two-story buildings.

Concerns for wildflowers, Pedri said, would be for the planning commission to consider.

Fayock also questioned the impact utility installation will have on street conditions and believes storm water runoff will be a disaster for the neighborhood.

Caputo said he plans to install utilities at the back of the property and run them through the center of the land.

Notaro, meanwhile, questioned impact the project will have on traffic and asked why the apartments couldnt be built in place of the former naval reserve building.

Caputo said that some of the tenants at his other properties dont own cars and that the complexes, in his opinion, havent drastically impacted traffic conditions.

The apartments cant be built in place of the former reserve building because demolition costs would be too expensive, Caputo added.

Caputo said after the hearing that he has no intention of harming anyone with his plans for developing the property.

Contact the writer:

sgalski@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3586

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City's zoning board grants special exception - Standard Speaker

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LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- Questions remain about what led to a roof collapse that forced nearly 80 residents out of their homes at a Lakewood apartment building on Sunday.

The affected residents at Maplewood Village Apartments are waiting to find out when they will be allowed inside to retrieve some of their clothing and belongings.

While waiting for answers, some residents have been using their vehicles to live in while only a few stayed at a Red Cross emergency shelter on Sunday night.

The residents are blaming the roofing contractor and its supplier for the collapse. The crew fromGulf Eagle Supply Company began removing the huge stack of roofing materials still sitting on a second building on Monday.

The building was also evacuated on Sunday out of fear it would also collapse.

The supplierhas had two cases filed against it in the past two years and is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau.

"That's our life. Some of us had to miss work because of this. Unfortunately, some of us aren't getting paid for this. A lot of us want to just go in get our belongings and see what's going on, but it was just always a story getting thrown here there and everywhere," said displaced resident Rena Martinez.

"Unfortunately, it appears that there was too much weight in one particular area and that's possibly what caused that,"Jess Driggers of Planet Roofing and Solar said.

Driggers is co-owner of Planet Roofing, which was supposed to begin work on the buildings Monday.

Driggerssaid the supplier improperly placed tons of shingles in single piles instead of the standard practice of spreading the weight across the roof .

"We're doing everything possible on our end. We've activated our own insurance to step up and make sure that these people are taken care of," Driggers said.

A structural engineer will have to determine when residents can be allowed back in.

"They both have to solve this problem for us because many families here have kids and are homeless now," displaced resident Carlos Lopez said. "We're still staying strong."

The apartment complex is located near Wadsworth Boulevard and West Ninth Avenue in Lakewood. One man captured part of the collapse on video.

A resident said the roof had been damaged in a hailstorm a few weeks ago. There were no injuries.

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Residents believe roofing materials caused collapse at Lakewood ... - FOX31 Denver

By Stephanie Vanderbilt

Q: We are in the process of getting estimates for our roof and the various contractors weve spoken with are suggesting different materials as part of the total roof package.We want the best protection. What are the different parts of a quality roofing system?

A: Lets face it. New England weather poses many opportunities for roof damage, from strong winds to freezing rain. As the seasons take their toll on your exterior, fortifying your home with a quality roofing system can help keep the damage to a minimum.

Unfortunately, the bad news is that not all roofs are created equal and a new roof doesnt automatically mean youre protected from the elements. Quality roofing systems are key to fortifying your roof for every season, and this is what you need to look for to get the best protection (and bang for your buck):

The characteristics and ROI of quality roofing systems

Just like any other investment youll make as a homeowner, the quality of your upgrade directly reflects on materials and performance. Roofing replacement can yield an almost 70 percent ROI (return on investment) according to Remodeling Magazines 2017 Cost vs. Value report, making it one of the best home improvement upgrades to consider this year.

However, be careful on the quality of the roofing that you choose. Bottom dollar roofing wont offer much protection for your home when you need it the mostlet alone provide the best return on investment if you decide to sell.

While a lot of homeowners envision their roof as a series of shingles, the truth is that there is a lot more to your roof below the surface. In order to truly fortify your roof, youll need to invest in a system that delivers the ultimate protection.

Six major components of a quality roofing system:

1. Increase ventilation with ridge and soffit vents

Roof ridge vents and soffit vents are designed to help your home breathe and circulate air.

Ventilation is a major characteristic of quality roofing, since lack of airflow can cause moisture buildup in the attic.

Not only do these components help air circulate through your attic, but they also protect your entire roofing structureincluding the shingles and the roof deck. This is achieved by preventing heat and moisture buildup with continuous airflow.

2. Fight against moisture with leak barrier protection

No New England homeowner wants to find wet areas inside of their home. This is why quality roofing must include leak barrier protection that helps keep moisture out of your home.

A quality leak barrier system prevents leaks around the most vulnerable areas of your roof, including the chimney, eaves, side walls, skylights, valleys and more.

Furthermore, a leak barrier system also protects against ice dam formation during the winter months. If your roof was damaged from previous ice dams, a leak barrier system will help prevent that in the future by preventing melting snow and ice from soaking through your shingles and into the roof deck.

3. Combat roof rot with synthetic roof deck protection

Roof rot is a nasty predicament that nearly no homeowner wants to deal with. Signs of roof damage include:

- Missing or broken shingles

- Strange bubbles on your roof

- Shingles that easily crumble away

- Pooling water that lingers after rain

- Curling or buckling shingles

- Missing granules

- Moss or algae growth

Synthetic roof deck protection offers an extra layer of protection between the roof deck and shingles and prolongs the life of your roof. Roof deck protection can block moisture and prevent wind-driven rain from doing damage. In addition, quality synthetic underlayment lays flatter, allowing for shingles that lay flatter and appear more uniform.

4. Increase lifespan of roof starter strip shingles

Quality asphalt shingles can last 50-plus years depending on the manufacturer. You can get more mileage out of your roof by opting for self-adhesive roof starter strip shingles. These are an important component of a quality roofing system since they help prevent shingles from blowing away in winds as strong as 130 miles per hour. If you live in one of the many coastal areas of

New England, youre well aware of how damaging strong winds can be for your home.

5. Opt for lifetime shingles

Speaking of longevity, choosing lifetime shingles will stretch your investment even further.

Lifetime shingles are heavier and more durable than what youll find with run-of-the-mill shingles making this option an exceptional choice with fortifying your roof for good. Want even better news? You can get high quality shingles in a wide range of shades and colors to improve the beauty and curb appeal of your home.

6. Better protection with lifetime ridge cap shingles

The last component of a quality roofing system is lifetime ridge cap shingles. This is the cherry-on-top for quality roofing systems. This component can enhance the beauty of your home while also guarding against leaks at the hips and ridges, the areas of highest stress on the roof.

As we all know, roof damage is costly. A high quality roofing system installed by a top rated roofing contractor will help fortify your home from top to bottom, preventing leaks, roof rot, ice dams and more. For questions on how a system such as a GAF roofing system can better protect your New England home, contact Coastal Windows & Exteriorstoday at questions@mycoastalwindows.com or call 978-7304-0495.

-- Stephanie Vanderbilt, owner of Coastal Windows & Exteriors, is your local home improvement resource with the absolute commitment to the highest ethical standards. This means never engaging in high-pressure sales tactics and always putting homeowner education first. With a passion for education and helping others love the home they live in, Vanderbilt would love to answer any questions that will help you make your home beautiful, warm, safe and energy-efficient. Do you have other home improvement questions Vanderbilt can help answer? Ask her at svanderbilt@mycoastalwindows.com or call at 978-304- 0495.

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AT HOME WITH STEPHANIE: How quality roofing systems will fortify ... - Wicked Local Melrose

"Adriel's knowledge of the roofing industry is unparalleled," said Rick Cunningham, president of Highland Commercial Roofing. "His attention to customer satisfaction and getting the job done right and on time is key to our expansion success. I believe Adriel will be a great asset to the company."

Highland Commercial Roofing currently has five offices serving Arizona, Nevada, San Diego, Southern California and Northern California. The new Vancouver, Washington location is scheduled to open in August, and will serve clients throughout the Pacific Northwest region with an emphasis on Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.

"Highland Commercial Roofing is an industry leader on the West Coast," Sheridan said. "Highland's success is based on providing the best possible customer servicefrom educating the customer about the roofing process and their options, to ensuring the customer is happy with the end result by going above and beyond what other companies might be willing to do. I will bring this focus on customer service, combined with my extensive product knowledge, to ensure our customers in the Pacific Northwest get the best possible commercial roofing solutions to fit their needs."

Recently, Highland Commercial Roofing was awarded a Guildmaster Award for the second year in a row for showing a continued commitment to service excellence by delivering a consistently superior customer experience. They were one of only 200 companies recognized by GuildQuality throughout the country, and the only commercial roofing contractor to be recognized.

About Highland Commercial Roofing Since 1991, building owners and property managers throughout the Southwest have come to rely on Highland Commercial Roofing for their experience and top-quality workmanship and to deliver prompt, expert, affordable roofing solutions. Highland is also respected for its cost-effective inspection and maintenance services that can extend the life of commercial roofing systems and help control costly future expenses. Highland provides roofing services and roof maintenance for building owners and managers of commercial, industrial, office and multi-family properties and specializes in the installation of seamless, energy-efficient commercial "cool-roof" systems.

Please visit http://www.highlandroof.com for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 hripley@ripleypr.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highland-commercial-roofing-hires-vice-president-expands-to-pacific-northwest-300476047.html

SOURCE Highland Commercial Roofing

https://www.highlandroof.com

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Highland Commercial Roofing Hires Vice President, Expands to Pacific Northwest - PR Newswire (press release)

QUEENSBURY The skyline at SUNY Adirondacks campus is being transformed as two new buildings rapidly take shape.

The college is building additions on both sides of its current science building. A $17 million two-story addition is going up to house nursing, science, technology, engineering and math programs on the south side, and the $9.7 million one-story Adirondack Regional Workforce Readiness Center is going up on the north side.

Construction began last fall on the science wing and in late February on the Workforce Readiness Center. The work is progressing nicely and staying on budget, according to SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy.

The science building is scheduled to be ready to move in August. Theyre furiously moving along. The Workforce Readiness Center is still ahead of schedule, she said.

Good weather helped move up the start of construction on the workforce center from late March to early February.

Duffy recently had a chance to tour the construction. The first floor of the science wing will have five science laboratories and a greenhouse. The second floor will house four more laboratories and two classrooms.

The space is just phenomenal, she said. Students and faculty will be absolutely thrilled.

Lots of student study spaces are located throughout the building, Duffy said. The classrooms are bigger and more appropriately sized for the program. The seating is easy to move around to get away from the traditional classroom chairs and desks.

The rooms also have better natural lighting, she added.

The windows bring in the beauty of our region, she said.

Once the science addition is completed, everyone will move out of the existing science space, she said.

The current science building will be renovated. Thats where a lot of the nursing program will go next spring, she said.

That space will be transformed into offices, computer classrooms, practice labs, nursing simulation labs and tutoring spaces.

The Workforce Readiness Center should be done by the end of the year, Duffy said.

It will house the colleges Business Central, a one-stop shop for students who are looking for internships and jobs, an entrepreneurship center and a large meeting space that can fit 280 people.

The expanded and renovated building is being renamed Adirondack Hall. The colleges trustees approved the name change at its meeting last month.

Half of the cost of the science building is being covered by the state, the other half by Warren and Washington counties. Warren County is responsible for about $5.76 million and Washington County $2.74 million. The Workforce Readiness Center is being funded by a $9.7 million SUNY 2020 grant.

Also under renovation this summer is a portion of Warren Hall to create the Student Success Center, which will consolidate services for students in one location and include a new student advising center.

At the Scoville Learning Center, renovations include relocating the Accessibility Services Suite into the facility. That will place it next to the Center for Reading and Writing and Mathematics Lab, which will help improve student referrals, increase collaboration and improve efficiency, according to college officials.

The project is funded by state funding and by chargebacks, the money the college receives from counties outside Warren and Washington when students in those communities attend SUNY Adirondack.

Duffy also said she is excited the college realized its $2.1 million Reach New Heights capital fundraising goal. Of that, $1.6 million is for furnishings and equipment.

Its exciting to us that 30 percent of our donors were new donors to the college, which I think is a testimony to the community spirit for this college, she said.

You can read Michael Goots blog, A Time to Learn, at http://www.poststar.com or his updates on Twitter @ps_education.

Read more from the original source:
New buildings at SUNY Adirondack taking shape - Glens Falls Post-Star

County commissioners want a little more time to mull a study recommending more than $25 million in facility improvements.

The plan, presented at Tuesdays Board of Commissioners meeting focuses on keeping core services centralized, maintaining the downtown Faribault locations.

John McNamara and Jonathan Loose of Wold Architects made the presentation, leading the board through their recommendations for the three structures: the Government Services Building, courthouse and Law Enforcement Center, which are based on meetings with a team of county department heads.

The Government Services Building is the highest priority, McNamara said, suggesting two, two-story additions totaling 13,000 feet.

The expansion would relieve overcrowding in the Social Services Department and locate the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, which shares some of the same clients, nearby. It would also add needed training space as well as expand the Veterans Services, Administration and 4-H/Extension offices.

It made the most sense to reinvest in this facility, said Loose, who noted several times that the board should consider the study a 20-year plan.

Work on the Government Services Building alone is estimated at $10 million, according to the study, which includes calculations for 2018.

Security enhancements at the courthouse are included in a Wolds Priority 2 recommendations. To create a more secure, single entry point, Wold suggests closing all entrances except the lower west side door since its the only access that meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The remaining doors would be exits only.

The change would allow Sheriffs deputies to control the flow of traffic and set up a secure checkpoint where they could screen for weapons. That change, along with reconfigured restrooms would cost about $642,000, according to Wold, though the county is pursuing grant funding to help pay for the modifications.

A second suggestion for the courthouse includes repurposing space now used for records storage for the county attorney. Digital record keeping is reducing the need for storage space, McNamara said.

The largest addition at 24,600 square feet would be at the Law Enforcement Center. The three-story addition, a third priority, would increase the training area, evidence storage and indoor parking, and expand the jail portion of the building. Things are so tight at the Rice County Jail, which includes two facilities and has a capacity of 71 beds, that last fall the county signed an agreement with Steele County to house prisoners on an as-needed basis.

Costs for that project will be about $9.76 million, according to Wolds calculations.

Thats about the right size project for the county, Administrator Sara Folsted said. Folsted said shed spoken with the county auditor-treasurer, who mentioned that some debt is about to be paid off, clearing the way for additional projects.

Commissioner Galen Malecha suggested another work session to discuss the study and a serious look at the countys existing debt.

Our debts around $22 million, he said. How much more do you want to take on?

Reach Regional Managing Editor Suzanne Rook at 507-333-3134. Follow her on Twitter @rooksuzy

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Facilities study suggests $25 million in upgrades to county buildings - Southernminn.com