County to auction annex buildings

As various Flathead County government offices are moved back into the renovated courthouse, the county commissioners have decided to sell the two annex buildings at an public auction.

The auction is 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 10 at the front door of the Flathead County Justice Center.

Each building has an appraised value of $3,000 and the county won’t sell the buildings for less than 90 percent or $2,700 per building.

If no bids are received at the auction, the annexes will be demolished.

Potential bidders may inspect the buildings by making arrangements with the county commissioners’ office at 758-5503.

The buyers must remove the building and debris, but not the foundations or footings, by Dec. 15.

The decision to sell the buildings came about after county officials considered multiple options for their use.

Originally, the plan was to move the west annex to the county fairgrounds for use by the agriculture extension and 4-H departments or to move it to the south end of the courthouse complex for use by the county maintenance staff.

Ideas for the east annex were to move it to the south end of the campus and use it for the maintenance staff or to house the Agency on Aging staff.

But, county Administrator Mike Pence said, cost estimates to move the buildings were higher than expected — between $30,000 and $70,000 per building. The county would also incur costs for new foundations, sidewalks and parking areas wherever the buildings were relocated.

Pence and county Maintenance Superintendent Jed Fisher determined the county could construct steel buildings to meet its office space needs for a lower cost than moving the annexes.

Office moves from various buildings on the courthouse campus begin Monday, Nov. 7, with the final offices slated to be moved on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

First to move are the county commissioners and county administrative staff, now housed in the west annex. Those offices move on Nov. 7 and 8.

The human resources department moves on Nov. 9 and 10.

The GIS department is to move Nov. 14 and 15. Finance department staffers move on Nov. 17 and 18.

The plat room is to move Nov. 28 and 29. The clerk and recorder’s offices move Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The last department to move is elections, set for Dec. 5 and 6.

During the move, “it’s business at usual” at all county offices, Clerk and Recorder Paula Robinson said. Members of the public can do any business they would do any other day, she said.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.