DEMOREST — The Habersham County Commission is continuing to refine plans for a new county administrative building on Jacob's Way near the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center.
At the commission's winter retreat Monday, the commission heard from Paul Hoover and Liz Hudson of Precision Planning Inc., who presented a concept site plan and other updates to building programming.
"At this point we have determined the location," Chairman Victor Anderson said. "We have instructed our consultants to begin a final version of a needs assessment to determine how much space each department will need to function, and looking into the future what we'll need to grow into."
After meeting with 11 county department heads last week, PPI officials said they feel the planned building is not best suited for the county's building maintenance department and the Habersham County Extension Service.
Commissioners discussed spending a minimal amount to relocate the building maintenance department to the former Georgia Department of Transportation engineering building on Toccoa Highway in front of the aquatic center.
Also discussed was what to do with the Extension Service and its programs, including 4-H, though no decisions were reached about possible alternate sites.
Initial schematic plan review for the planned administration building is anticipated to take place in late February, with final schematic package review and approval, as well as review of proposals for construction manager slated for late March.
"The next step is going to be actual physical layout, determining finally which departments will be located in the building, and which departments it just makes sense to be in other facilities that we already own and can operate," Anderson said. "Then, once we get kind of a floorplan design or layout, then we can begin the final design process. They [consultants] will begin it, but we will be integrally involved with that to help make sure it's a smart design and cost controlled."
The commission anticipates a called meeting on April 3 to interview or select a construction manager.
Hoover said May 1 is a critical date in the project timeline, calling it a "go/no go date". That's the day when the construction manager generates the initial cost estimate for the administration building.
Groundbreaking for the project could be held in August, with occupation by the end of 2018.
The goal of the project is to get all county offices and departments out of the current administration building, a former courthouse with numerous identified problems, as well as out of rental space at the former Habersham EMC complex on Ga. 115 West, county officials have said.
