By John Raffel
Correspondent
ALLEGAN – Construction bidding documents are being readied by the county’s architect-engineer, Wightman Associates, for the renovation of the Courthouse and the county services building, Allegan County Commission Chairman James Storey said.
“Following approval by the Board of Commissioners of layout plans for the renovation of the courthouse, bid invitations to contractors are scheduled to be released later this month,” he said. “Contracts for the $10 million project are expected to be awarded with enough time to start construction this year. Meanwhile, a separate search will soon commence for a contractor to move the historic Union Soldier monument.
“The monument will be relocated to the northwest corner of Courthouse Square to make way for a courthouse expansion to accommodate the newly minted third circuit court judge who will be elected next year.”
Meanwhile. Storey said the Community Action Agency of Allegan County’s (CAAC) board and staff has started revising its strategic plan in response to new data.
“The contractor retained to help develop the plan will guide the agency’s activities over the next three to four years and conduct extensive research among clients of the agency, agency staff, local service agencies, and existing national and local research,” Storey said. “The result of the research found that top priorities among those contacted were affordable day care, housing, transportation and access to mental health services.
“Clients of the agency reported their financial condition declined in the past few years. The CAAC board committee and staff will now use the data to determine how best the agency can provide for clients. The agency provides early head start, head start, food distribution, utility assistance and other services.”