(JUNEAU) Dodge County leaders are weighing several long-term facility options that could eventually reshape government buildings — starting with what consultants called the county’s biggest problem: the aging Henry Dodge Office Building.
During Tuesday’s Dodge County Board meeting, Kurt Berner, vice president of operations with The Samuels Group, reviewed conceptual options tied to the county’s ongoing master plan study led by Venture Architects.
Berner stressed the numbers discussed Tuesday are conservative estimates and not final costs. He also said the draft plan will continue evolving as supervisors provide more feedback.
“The Henry Dodge building was your number one problem,” Berner told supervisors. “The issue … is that Henry Dodge isn’t your only issue.”
One proposal would replace the Henry Dodge building, demolish the former J-Pod area at the jail, and construct a new medical examiner building. Consultants estimated that concept at about $54 million in projected 2028 dollars, including fees, furnishings, contingency costs, and inflation.
Another option would renovate the county administration building while temporarily relocating employees during construction. That concept was estimated at roughly $47 million.
Other concepts include building a new administration building, purchasing and renovating the former county office building across the street from the courthouse campus, or eventually creating a new combined government center.
Berner said portions of the county administration building date back to 1937, while additions were completed in 1995. He said county leaders must decide how long they want to continue investing in aging buildings across the campus.
“If you don’t consider that, what happens is 10 years, 20 years, 30 years will go by and then nothing is done with those buildings and they continue to age,” Berner said.
No final decisions have been made. County officials are expected to continue refining the master plan and gathering feedback before selecting a preferred option.
