The Butler County Commission accepted two bids for new projects last week: a new office in the courthouse basement, and renovations for the future Butler County Coroner’s Office. Both bids came from the only applicant, R Brothers Construction.
The first bid was $5,900 to construct a new office for court advocate Jennifer Hill.
“We had to move her because of the handicap ramp. (Her office) is going to be right beside the HR department,” said Presiding Commissioner Vince Lampe.
This consolidates resources for courthouse visitors and ensures their accessibility.
The second bid was for $34,000 to renovate the former Manufacturers Assistance Group building at 31 Butler County Road. The site will become the latest — and hopefully last — headquarters for the county coroner.
County Coroner Jim Akers explained the office was located at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral Home for 40 years until a change in state law moved it to the courthouse, then the old police department.
At that time, “the actual office and morgue were not in the same location,” Akers said.
There were also serious space issues. The new building will have enough room for deputies, storage, the morgue and inquests.
“The county’s been very good to us and we’re getting it all up-to-date,” he added.
Work on Williams’ office is expected to start this week, and the coroner’s office will immediately follow. Lampe said the county has prior experience with R Brothers Construction.
“They’ve done our prosecutor’s office site and tore it down for us, and did an excellent job, so I think it’ll be fine,” Lampe said. “And I didn’t do the price was out of line at all.”