The Cass County Board of Supervisors Wednesday morning, approved a proposal from Carlson, West, and Povandra Architects, for a courthouse space/needs study. The study will cost a total of $4,300. That includes the base price of $3,800, plus an optional $800 fee for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (Or, HVAC) analysis. The board concluded the HVAC study should be done to determine whether it would be more cost effective and feasible to install a Geo-thermal system, or reconfigure the current system, depending on the location of the 9-1-1 Center.

During their meeting last week, Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer, who sits on the County Public Safety Commission, said the Commission would be willing to foot $2,500 toward the cost of the study, but Supervisor Chuck Rieken said Wednesday, that the Board could look at picking up the entire bill, once the study is complete. He says that’s because it would benefit the entire courthouse, and not just the Comm Center.

The Board could look at numerous methods of helping to pay for the study, including splitting the costs with the Public Safety Commission and obtaining Federal/State grants. The study will be completed within 90-days once the contract is signed.

Finding more space in the courthouse or on the grounds of the facility is a process that began in the Fall of 2011, after it became clear the Cass County 9-1-1/Communications Center has outgrown its current location, and because new technology will take up more space and require the use of additional personnel to operate it.