SCOTT COMMISSION MAKES OFFER ON SHERIFF'S BUILDING

BENTON -- Buying a building for a new sheriff's office and courthouse renovations will be major elements in a 1995 Scott County budget.

The Scott County Commission has offered $120,000 to buy the Scott County Health Department building. Commissioners said it would be an ideal site for a sheriff's office.

Courthouse renovations are being planned to improve handicapped accessibility. The measures are necessary to comply with federal standards in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.

Sheriff Bill Ferrell said buying the health center across the street from the courthouse and sheriff's office would be good.

"It has an ideal floor plan for a sheriff's office," Ferrell said. The center has several private offices, counters and a conference room for training sessions.

The sheriff's office needs major repairs, the commissioners said. If a new office could be found, the existing one could be demolished for more parking or jail expansion.

Warren Manning, health center administrator, said his board will consider the county's offer Jan. 31. The possible sale to the county has never been past the discussion stage.

"I think the sheriff needs something better, too," Manning said. "This is the first bona fide offer the health department has ever received from the county."

Manning said the offer was reasonable for the type of building and its location in Benton. Using it as a governmental building would be best because it is situated in the county seat, he said.

The health center, built in 1960, has about 2,900 square feet, all on the ground floor. It has four offices, two exam rooms, a lab, waiting room and conference area. Its air-conditioning system is only 2 years old and the furnace was replaced about seven years ago, Manning said.

As to the courthouse renovations, the county commission reviewed a plan Thursday from John Colton Sargent, a Sikeston architect-planner, who received $1,500 for the study.

Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner called it a good plan. Both he and Associate Commissioner Walter Bizzell of Sikeston said they had feared the estimate would be much higher.

Sargent estimated the cost at $109,550, with $72,000 of that for an elevator take people to the circuit courtroom and the offices on the second floor. The plan also included a ramp in front of the courthouse, improved handicapped parking, the proper-width doors and automatic mechanisms to handle wheelchairs, restroom upgrades and making jury boxes and witness stands level with courtroom floors.

"I hope we can do it for that cost," Kielhofner said. The commission would have a better idea if it decides to bid the renovations later this year.

In other business Thursday, commissioners scheduled a Tuesday afternoon session to begin studying officeholders' requests for the 1995 budget.

All officeholders have submitted expense requests for 1995, except for salaries, County Clerk Rita Milam said.

The working documents presented to the commissioners for study also show 1993 and 1994 actual expenses and 1994 budgeted amounts.

The commissioners have also received a printout of 1994 salaries of county employees. The report shows how much more it would cost the county to provide 3 or 5 percent raises this year.

In past years, the commission has handled the supply and equipment expenses for county offices in the first part of the budget process and then decided what kind of blanket increase could be offered on salaries near the end of January.