Members of the Vermilion County Board have been told some changes may be necessary for planned improvements at some county-owned buildings. Steve Miller, chairman of the Board’s Finance Committee, delivered that message to board members…
{AUDIO: “Just for your information, many bids have been collected already. And Centrica (Business Solutions), which is the firm Blaine Meadows works for, is in the process of tabulating those and probably discussing some changes that are warranted due to information that arose since the original request for bids were put out.”}
(Steve Miller addressing the Vermilion County Board.)
The county still has $5.7 million dollars in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds available to help pay for the work. Certain improvements are being proposed at the Joseph G. Cannon Building, the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse, the county highway building, county health department building, animal shelter and maintenance garage.
Since some early bids have come in a little higher than expected, Miller says county board members will have to make some tough decisions…
{AUDIO: “It’s going to be a lot of projects for us to consider in this fiscal year. How much of that we want to pay for. If we want to borrow any money to complete the projects – which I’m not particularly happy with. But there are financing opportunities through Centrica that probably do not exist in the regular borrowing world.”}
One of the improvements planned at the Joseph G. Cannon Building (where many county offices are located) is the installation of a new elevator, but Miller says that project is moving at “glacial speed”….
{AUDIO: “The architect firm that we engaged in February is attempting to locate a specialist who has done similar projects to ours at the University of Illinois – and apparently has deep credentials and experience in this area. But that project has got a lot of gravity to it and is moving very slowly.}
Since the Joseph G. Cannon Building is on the National Registry of Historic Places there are certain parameters and guidelines that must be followed in making any changes.
(This story – including photos – by Bill Pickett.)
