O'Brien outlines capital priorities

RITZVILLE – Adams County Public Works Director Todd O’Brien laid out this year’s three capital improvement priorities during the Adams County Commission meeting March 7.

Replacing the roof on the county jail is the first priority, he said, noting construction of a new evidence/storage facility in Othello is second.

At a commissioners’ meeting last October, O’Brien discussed costs for platting land at the Sheriff’s Office substation to prepare for the new evidence building.

At that time, he received a cost estimate $289,840 for the project. He also emphasized that postponing the project would result in inflated construction costs.

A five-year escalation, for example, would result in an estimated cost of $363,605, he said. A 10-year escalation would raise the price to $428,964.

O’Brien’s third priority involved enhancements to the front entrance of the county elections office on Main Street in Ritzville. Planned upgrades include new glass and card locks.

Though all three priorities fit within approved budget constraints, O’Brien emphasized that “firm” cost numbers have yet to be determined.

Nevertheless, he noted that all three projects are “in the hopper and moving forward.”

Finally, he discussed lower-priority projects that might be started depending on funding availability.

Those include upgrades to the electric power network at the Adams County fairgrounds in Othello and various landscaping, sidewalk repair, painting, tree removal and window replacement projects.

County commissioners agreed with O’Brien’s Top 3 priorities.