MOUNT VERNON — Last week, the Knox County Board of Commissioners approved buying land near Apple Valley for a future administrative office for the county’s water and wastewater department.
The commissioners will buy 2.3 acres from Thomas and Holly Hawks at 22000 Coshocton Road, Howard.
The county has been seeking a potential site near Apple Valley for several years. About 3,500 of the county’s 5,000 customers live in Apple Valley.
County Administrator Jason Booth said the county will use $142,500 in general fund money to buy the land. It will use water/wastewater funds to build the office building.
The board has no time frame in mind to construct the administrative building.
The commissioners also approved a contract addendum with the Knox County Land Reutilization Corp., aka the Knox County Land Bank, on three parcels previously acquired for a new transit center.
The parcels are at 601 W. Chestnut St., 7 Norton St., and 501 W. High St.
Instead, the Board of Commissioners will buy a warehouse in Heartland Commerce Park for $1.1 million.
“Now that we have found a much more cost-effective way to have a transit center down there, we are going to sell these back to the land bank,” Booth said.
Thursday’s contract addendum allows the board to deed the three parcels back to the land bank for a $360,000 credit.
The actual cash outlay for the warehouse will be $740,000.
Booth expects to close on the warehouse purchase in late September or early October.
“This expedites that so they can start to find buyers for those three parcels,” Booth said.
Commissioners approve design contract for warehouse
Related to the new Knox County Transit facility, the commissioners approved a $74,250 proposal from Side Street Studios for design services for the warehouse.
The contract includes the engineering for HVAC and electrical work.
Booth said the county chose Columbus-based Side Street Studio because the company has previously successfully worked with the county.
Since the contract is under the $77,000 threshold, the county did not have to bid the project.
Commissioners honor employee, residents
Also on Thursday, the Board of Commissioners honored Pam Shafer for 40 years of service.
Shaffer served for many years in the auditor’s office. More recently, she has served in the human resources department.
The board also recognized and commended Kathy and Dave Daniels as the Ohio District 5 area on agency Agency on Aging Outstanding Senior Citizens of the Year for Knox County.
Kyle Webb, director of information technology, updated the commissioners on departmental activities over the past month.
Projects completed include implementing cloud backup as an additional backup solution and installing server room generator power and battery backup on the second floor.
The department completed a LEADS (Law Enforcement Automated Data System) audit with 911 and a Board of Elections audit with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.
Ongoing projects include computer replacements, assisting with the city’s move to the Central Ohio Technical College building, and implementing a password protection program.
Webb reported that Tanner Burgess joined the department as an IT support specialist.
Additionally, the commissioners took the following actions:
•Approved a $388,595.69 contract between Knox County Job & Family Services and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for the Seek Work program
•Accepted the depository and investment income statement for July for $135,865.18
•Authorized the Board of Elections to dispose of obsolete and no longer required voting equipment