That’s the tentative timetable announced by county officials, earlier this week. The new 28,000-square-foot L-shaped building will include two 14,000-square-foot sections, one for the library and one to house election equipment and for related facilities.
“This is the official kickoff,” said County Planner Barry Burton, with formal announcement that the Salt Lake City architectural firm of Blalock Partners will design the one-story facility. It will be built kitty-corner from the Farmington Community Center, on land currently housing the county’s Environmental Health Division.
That building will be razed in anticipation of completion of the new Health Administration Building in downtown Clearfield. Completion on both the library/elections building and health building is set for 2011.
“We are delighted to be able to move the process forward. This project has been discussed and planned for many years,” said County Library director Chris Sanford. “The credit really needs to be shared by a lot of people.
“We’re most excited at the possibility of having a larger building that will include auditorium space for the citizens who use this library – and for having additional space for our processing department.
“We just look forward to getting the show on the road,” she said. “We hope to achieve a design that is attractive and functional, and not only serve us on opening day, but in the years to come.”
The current 9,000-square-foot building was constructed in the early 1960s and is too small, and does not meet seismic standards. Election equipment is housed in the basement.
“There will (also) be more space to allow for some growth in election equipment and needs,” said Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings.
The election building will house the hundreds of electronic voting machines as well as have places for early voting and training of poll workers.
County Commission Chair Bret Millburn said the new library/elections building will usher in the start of changes on the county campus, which is anchored by the Memorial Courthouse.
There may have to be some juggling of space to accommodate staff from environmental health when library construction starts, he said, adding that it’s too early to have all of those details worked out. Such details will be coordinated between architects for the new health building and library.
Eventually, the Memorial Courthouse will see some changes, but details have still to be worked out.
Millburn recalled how $1 million was placed into an account to be used for construction and remodeling of that facility. However, bonding or other sources will also be needed for such a sizable project, he said.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
Post a Comment
