Henry County approves $180 million capital projects list

The Henry County Board of Commissioners has approved a capital projects list totaling $180 million dollars and authorized staff to solicit Requests for Proposals regarding potential funding sources. The list is headlined by $90 million for a potential convention center / arena.

The capital projects list has been discussed by the board at various times since August 2017. Projects include maintenance needs at county buildings, vehicle replacements, technology upgrades, construction of new capacity for various departments, expansion of the Henry County Courthouse and Judicial Building, a new jail pod, convention center / arena, and amphitheater.

Project costs include the following:

The proposed convention center was originally presented by county staff at a cost estimate of $60 million. Commissioner Bruce Holmes increased that estimate to $90 million prior to motioning to approve the list.

The county will now solicit Requests for Proposals regarding potential funding sources for the projects. Possible funding options previously mentioned by either county staff or members of the commission include bonding projects via referendum, impact fees, SPLOST V projects, public / private partnerships, or the general fund.

Assistant County Manager Brad Johnson provided further breakdown of project costs during a called workshop meeting of the board last week. The information listed below is reprinted from that presentation.

Phase I – Maintenance

• Administration Building (roof, renovate conference room B, and feasibility studies) – $414,500
• Airport (hanger repair) – $55,000
• Connecting Henry (roof repair) – $90,000
• Courts (roof repair / replacement at various judicial buildings) – $747,500
• Elections (roof replacement) – $155,000
• Facilities Maintenance (new storage building and roof replacement) – $555,000
• Fire / EMS (roof replacement, concrete pad repair, and station paint and flooring) – $685,000
• Fleet (tools, equipment, and replacement lifts / jacks) – $100,000
• Police (public safety annex roof) – $1,750,000
• Recreation (irrigation / sod, roof replacement, tree removal, tennis court resurfacing, additional security cameras, and replace worn recreation equipment) – $860,500
• Senior Services (roof replacement, security cameras, and furniture replacement) – $90,000
• Sheriff (jail roof repair) – $765,000
• Technology Services (replace desktop computers, disaster recovery server setup, wireless access points, and various IT upgrades) – $810,000
• Total: $7,077,500

Phase I – Vehicles

• Animal Control – $120,000
• Communications – $35,000
• Code Enforcement – $70,000
• Coroner – $35,000
• Courts – $70,000
• Development Authority – $40,000
• DOT – $90,000
• Facilities Maintenance – $90,000
• Fire / EMS – $1,200,000
• Fleet – $90,000
• Police – $1,200,000
• Recreation – $90,000
• Risk Management – $35,000
• Senior Services – $60,000
• Sheriff – $1,000,000
• Tax Assessor – $90,000
• Tax Commissioner – $30,000
• Technology Services – $90,000
• Total: $4,435,000

Phase I – Buildings and Technology

• Coroner (new building) – $200,000
• DOT (sidewalks – location TBD) – $2,000,000
• Facilities (county buildings flooring and painting) – $700,000
• Technology (Wi-Fi county buildings) – $500,000
• Total: $3,400,000

Phase II – Major Building Projects

• Airport (hanger repairs) – $100,000
• Animal Control (building addition) – $2,000,000
• Communications (studio upgrade and technology) – $250,000
• Courts (courthouse expansion, judicial center addition, probate court parking, and court software upgrade) – $34,300,000 later increased to $46,300,000
• DOT (crew building) – $250,000
• Elections (new building) – $2,500,000
• Fleet Services (building expansion) – $700,000
• Tax Assessor / Tax Commissioner (new building) – $6,700,000
• Technology Services (upgrade internet services and servers) – $1,200,000
• Total: $48,000,000 later increased to $60,000,000 because of the projected costs to expand the courthouse

Staff’s presentation from February 13 is available to view on the county website. A list of the project costs is also available on the county website.