Supervisors take bid for first phase for Public Health building

The first step toward a permanent building for the Washington County Public Health Department came at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting when the low bid for the first phase was accepted.
Winning bid was $2,000 from Solum Lang Architects of Cedar Rapids for what is a decision making phase. That is, it is to evaluate sites ranging from Building 1 at the county owned Orchard Hill and three others, including land at Orchard Hill.
Other bids were Martin Design, Marion, $19,019 and Shive-Hattery, Iowa City, $10,000.
Solum Lang also had the lowest bids for subsequent phases: $76,750 for remodeling and $79,500 for new building. Martin design was $104,936 and Shive-Hatery, $228,000 for the remodeling and $128,394 and $210,000 respectively for new.
No timetable was set for a recommendation about a site, which will have to be made before remodeling or building new takes place, noted County Auditor Bill Fredrick.
Funding for the project, beyond the initial $2,000, probably will involve a referendum said Fredrick.