Public Works Ctr. Projects Finished, Near Completion

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Public Works Ctr. Projects Finished, Near Completion


Oct. 23, 2008

General Services director Gary Mullich presented an update report to the Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday on recent departmental activities. Topics discussed included Public Works Complex buildings, the county's surplus auction, and the courthouse centennial celebration.
The new $3.4 million Oakland roads garage is completed at the county's Public Works Complex, Mullich reported. Roads Department personnel have been busy moving items into their new facility, which is located off Rt. 135 near Mtn. Lake Park.

The Department of Public Utility's maintenance/warehouse at the complex is also near completion, Mullich said. Staff should be able to move equipment and supplies into their new $1.9 million facility by the end of December. DPU currently leases a storage building near Oakland.

The next phase of the Public Works Complex is the administration building, which is to have offices for DPU, the Roads Department and engineering, and the Permits and Inspections Division.

Mullich said staff members from those departments recently reviewed the floor plan for their new building with the project architects, Proffitt & Associates.

Jerry Bell, General Service's project manager, showed the plan to the commissioners. The design includes additional space for future expansion, as well as possible room for an alternate Emergency Operations Center, Mullich noted. The EOC could be funded through a federal grant.

Bell said the design for the administration building will be finished in November or December, and the project could be put up for bids in late December or January. Construction could then begin in the spring, he noted.

The commissioners reviewed the architects' invoices for the work they have completed so far. The total contract for the design phase amounts to $186,364.

County officials must now decide whether to proceed with the construction phase of the project, given the current economic situation. Commissioner Ernie Gregg said they needed to balance the cost of construction with the cost savings that would be accrued by having all the offices in that one building.

The commissioners and department heads will meet next month to review the county's budget and look at various ways to save money and cut costs in all areas of government.

Mullich also reported that county would conduct a surplus auction this Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. at the old Oakland roads garage. The commissioners reviewed the list of available items, which includes vehicles, heavy equipment, long guns, parts, tools, office furniture, and electronics.

Some of the vehicles and guns once belonged to the sheriff's office, while others were confiscated by officers.

A more detailed list of auction items is available online at garrettcounty.org under "Purchasing" and "County Auction."

In addition, Mullich reported that the courthouse centennial celebration that took place during the Autumn Glory Festival went well. He noted that videos of the celebration and commemorative courthouse centennial plates may be available for purchase from the Garrett County Historical Society.

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