County scales back building plans

Design work is starting on a scaled-down version of a new county building meant to replace office space in and around the Flathead County courthouse.

It's not clear, however, that the county will be able to afford even that construction.

There are concerns about the structural integrity of the old courthouse.

The stretch of U.S. 93 around the courthouse also is slated for construction in spring 2006, and the county is planning to remove the annex buildings on either side of the courthouse to make way for the road.

Original plans called for a new two-story, 40,000-square-foot building to house the commissioners' offices, the extension service and mail room, the planning office, clerk and recorder's offices, treasurer and school superintendent.

On Tuesday, however, commissioners requested plans for a one-story, 10,000-square-foot building that could be expanded later. The plans call for the project to be bid in January, with construction complete by fall.

The cost of the building is estimated at about $1.5 million, acting county administrator Myrt Webb said.

The county has $980,000 available for the project, not counting money it would receive for property taken by the state for the road project.

Webb said the county might have to borrow $500,000 to cover the rest of the cost.