CUMBERLAND — Plans to build a new sheriff’s office at the intersection of Kelly Road and Springfield Street on what is now a grassy space in front of the county office building got the go-ahead from county commissioners Thursday.
Allegany County commissioners voted to award three contracts totaling $60,025 to private firms who will work with the county’s Office of Public Works to design and build the new offices. Much of the work will be done in house to save money, county officials have said.
The firms hired were Chaney Architects, East Hills Engineering and Regan Matonack and Associates.
“We have worked with all three of these firms before,” said Adam Patterson, a county engineer.
“Our project plan is to have the architect prepare plans and specifications and bid the construction of a building shell, consisting of walls, roof, doors and windows,” said a memo prepared by Paul Kahl, the county’s director of public works.
The fitting of the building’s interior and interior construction would be done by county staff to save money, officials have said.
“The building we are currently in is too small for our purposes,” Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson has said. “It was never built to be a sheriff’s office.”
Among the many issues are a lack of secure storage space and that could lead to liability issues, Robertson said.
County staff have said it would take 12 to 18 months to fit the building because of other required work by county crews.
Robertson and his staff currently work out of space on Furnace Street.
In other news, County Finance Director Jason Bennett told commissioners that a public bond refinancing sale went well.
That public sale, combined with an earlier private sale, will save the county a total of about $1.1 million, Bennett said.
The county had nine bids on the public sale and accepted an offer from Robert W. Baird & Co. at 2.26 percent.
“We’re right on target with our savings,” Bennett said.
The bond sale will be closed later this month, Bennett said.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.
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