Next Steps For Courthouse

Various Marshall County officials participated in a virtual meeting Tuesday morning regarding next steps for the courthouse project. Last week, county voters passed a $5 million bond for renovations to the courthouse plus a new law enforcement center.

Auditor Megan Biel, Commission Chairman Matt Schuller and Sheriff Sam Swanson met with financial planner Tobin Morris and ISG Architect Josh Muckenhirn. The group talked about using a construction manager for the project or going straight to the hard bid process with no manager. There are pros and cons to both options county officials were told with a construction manager assuming more of the risk of the project, but obviously costing the county to be hired.

The full commission will decide which option to go with at their meeting on Tuesday.

The decision was also made to hold off on the issuing of bonds until next year after the bidding process. Morris noted that holding off until then might also allow interest rates to go down. Biel explained that this means that property owners will not see the tax increase for the bond until 2025.