5. County Coroner office space - Laserfiche WebLink

Building Committee---March 21, 2014 1 CASS COUNTY BUILDING COMMITTEE MARCH 21, 2014-10:30 AM 1. MEETING TO ORDER A meeting of the Cass County Building Committee was held Friday, March 21, 2014, at 10:30 AM with the following members present: County Commissioner Chad M. Peterson; County Auditor Michael Montplaisir; County Administrator Keith Berndt; and Cass County Sheriff Paul D. Laney. Absent were: East Central Judicial District Judge Doug Herman; and County Commissioner Darrell Vanyo. Also present were County Commissioner Mary Scherling; Cass County Coroner Dr. John Baird: and Cass County Sheriff's Department Captain Judy Tollefson. 2. MINUTES APPROVED MOTION, passed Mr. Montplaisir moved and Mr. Laney seconded that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as written. Motion carried. 3. DISCUSS RESULTS OF SUNMART BUILDING BID Mr. Peterson said on Thursday, March 20th, he attended the bid opening for the Sunmart Building. He said bids were received for general construction, mechanical, and electrical. If Cass County makes the decision to use approximately 3,800 square feet of the space for the Cass County Coroner space, the county cost would include $296,000 for general construction; $79,192 for mechanical; and $33,500 for electrical or approximately $409,000 total. This is about $100 per square foot which includes the fittings. The alternative for the coroner space would be to include it in the juvenile detention/alternative sentencing space on the grounds of the Cass County Jail. The issue with planning the space for that site is it may be at least two years out before a facility would be built and ready for use. Dr. Baird said the Sunmart space would include the general fitting up of the rooms including: office space for the coroner and deputy coroners; a walk-in cooler; a sink in the autopsy room; an in-floor scale; two cadaver racks; two carts; and six trays. In addition, two exam rooms would be roughed in, however, would not be fitted up at this time. In the future, LifeSource Organ Donation could possibly fit up the second room for space to be used for tissue harvest. At this time, all autopsies are done in either Bismarck or Grand Forks and there are no plans to change that in the near future. Mr. Berndt said negotiations would still be needed with the City of Fargo for a portion of the architectural costs. Mrs. Scherling said the Sunmart Building appears to be the most cost effective method at the present time; however, it may not be the best option for the future. Currently, the County Coroner's Office with the exception of the County Coroner has been moved into the Courthouse. This option is working satisfactorily for the time being. Dr. Baird said there is a need for additional space as well as space for storage of bodies. Also, there are a number of practical reasons to have the coroner's space located in close proximity to the Fargo Police Department substation. He added there is need for temporary morgue space until a final site is ready. Mr. Laney said the plans the Sheriff's Office are proposing for the juvenile detention/alternative sentencing space would solve all the issues because coroner space could easily be incorporated into the plans. He feels it is important to look into the future and solve the issue on a long-term basis.