Following an hour-long discussion, the Buena Vista County Supervisors this (Thur) morning voted unanimously to submit an offer for the county to purchase the Colorize building in Storm Lake.
Last week, BV Auditor Sue Lloyd said the Auditor/Election department is interested in moving into the building. Lloyd said making the move would free up space at the county jail where equipment is held, and would make it easier to transport voting machines to precincts during elections.
BV Election Deputy Karla Ahrendsen said it was brought up during the most recent Secretary of State meeting that handicap accessibility is becoming even more important during elections…(audio clip below :18 )
Supervisor Chair Paul Merten said the county facilities committee met last week. A former MetaBank building has also been considered as a purchasing option, as well as constructing a smaller building on the courthouse property for holding election equipment. Merten said the county also discussed the possibility of a future purchase of an administrative building similar to Clay and Dickinson counties.
Supervisor Tom Huseman said the Colorize building would be good for voting, but felt the auditor should remain at the courthouse, which Supervisor Rhonda Ringgenberg agreed with. Building and Grounds Superintendent Joe Keller said Colorize would be a nice location for storage, and said the county should also look for a new location for the Veterans Affairs department.
The county’s offer to purchase the Colorize building is for 290-thousand dollars. Last week, Lloyd said the asking price for the building is 340-thousand dollars.
If the building is acquired, the Auditor/Election departments wouldn’t make the move until after the upcoming general election. It isn’t set in stone who would occupy the building if it is acquired.
