The Shawano County Finance Committee does not want to spend $715,000 on an evidence storage facility.
The committee on Monday put a proposal to build the facility on hold.
It also took no action on approving foundation work for the facility because there were no estimates of the costs. However, it is likely the Finance Committee will meet prior to the County Board meeting on Sept. 25 to approve a resolution so the board can take action, and the site work can get started.
The evidence storage facility was approved in April as a capital project for 2013, but a subsequent proposal to borrow the money was defeated by the board in May. The most recent proposal is to take the $715,000 from the general fund for the project.
Finance Director Diane Rusch said if the board approves tapping the general fund for the full amount, the fund would still remain within the 20-25 percent of total budget margin needed to keep the county operating.
Supervisor Jerry Erdmann supported getting the site work going and figuring out how to do the rest of the project in stages.
“I would like to get the site work done this year,” Erdmann said. “That would be a step forward.”
Supervisor Arlyn Tober was hesitant to move forward, however, saying the price was too high.
“It’s just too much money,” Tober said.
Supervisor Marlin Noffke questioned whether the county should be moving forward with the site work without nailing down how the rest of the project would be funded. The evidence storage facility is slated to go behind the Huber Work Release Center in Shawano.
“People out there aren’t getting any more excited about it. They’re getting less excited about it,” Noffke said. “Are we just doing this for some kind a show thing?”
It could cost close to $100,000 to do the site work, which would include stubbing utilities, erecting a fence and laying gravel for vehicle access.
According to Maintenance Director Steve Dreher, installation of utilities was estimated to cost $53,000 in 2011, but the cost has likely gone up.
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