Bartholomew County government leaders are considering three financing options to pay for a new highway department garage.
The Bartholomew County Council, which has already approved financing up to $6 million in bonds for the project, was expected to be presented with 10-, 15- and 20-year bond options during its Monday evening work session, Bartholomew County Auditor Barb Hackman said earlier in the day.
Information tied to the three bond options, which would determine how long payments would be made, could come up for a possible vote during the county council’s Oct. 9 meeting, Hackman said.
Groundbreaking for the facility, which would be built off East 25th Street next to the Clay Township Fire Department, is expected to occur in May, Bartholomew County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said. It would replace its current facility located at State Street and Gladstone Avenue in the city of Columbus.
Bartholomew County officials in August approved paying DLZ Indiana Inc., an engineering and architectural firm in Indianapolis, $315,000 for architectural services for the project. The firm was also awarded a contract up to $17,400 for surveying work tied to the project.
Bartholomew County Commissioners approved a third contract two months ago — for $237,000 with Taylor Bros. Construction Co. of Columbus — for construction management services.
The county intends to pay for the project using County Economic Development Income Tax funds that would be reimbursed through the bonds, Kleinhenz said. The county highway garage project — which is under the Columbus Plan Commission jurisdiction — will also require the property to be rezoned, which will be up for consideration in November.
