Courthouse Annex Project moves ahead

       The final review of the plans on a new Courthouse Annex was presented to county officials yesterday. (TUES)     

        Lamar Architect and Design told the Daviess County Council and Commissioners at a joint meeting that the plans call for nearly 35,000 square feet consisting of a first floor 80 seat meeting chamber for public meetings, offices for Purdue Extension, and the Health Department.  The 2nd floor will be home to the Treasurer, Recorder, Auditor, Assessor, and Mapping offices. There’s also space of the County Surveyor, Coroner and Weights and Measurers Inspector

        The cost is $7.2 to $8.2 million to demolish the existing Extension and Health Offices and building a parking lot on that property.

        Lamar said the plans are to have design and development documents ready to advertise this November or early December.  Contracts could be awarded then in January with a possible groundbreaking in mid February.  Bonding for the project is set to be talked about at the Daviess County Council October meeting.  A $360,000 contract for Lamar to draw up the plans was approved at the meeting.  Lamar will need to go to the city planning commission for a rezoning request as the current property at Hefron and 3rd where the new annex is to be is zoned multi-family residential and will need to be changed.