Council considers resource center upgrades

Price tag for renovation is $574,000

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BROOKINGS – Now that the City of Brookings has acquired the County Resource Center from the county, there are plans to renovate the building to the tune of $574,172.

The council members will discuss the situation and possibly take action at their first meeting of the year, which starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the City & County Government Center.

The money will come from the city’s third-penny funds, according to an attachment to the agenda posted on the city’s website.

“The estimated cash balance in Fund 284 (third penny) at year-end is $890,982,” according to the attachment. “We have a policy that requires operating expenses be paid with operating revenues so all next year’s budgeted expenditures in this fund are provided for with incoming revenue. This capital project is an authorized expenditure from this fund’s cash balance.”

The renovations include general building expenses of $113,000 for finishes; $43,000 for woods, plastics and composites; $33,000 for existing conditions; and $32,000 for general requirements, among others. Mechanical and electrical expenses include $33,000 for HVAC; and $30,000 for electrical, among other expenses. Owner provided items not included in the construction cost total $171,450.

“The primary scope of work in all areas involves repainting the rooms, new floor coverings and HVAC upgrades,” according to the attachments. “Technology upgrades are necessary to four meeting rooms (County Rooms C & D, small conference room, and board room) so they can be utilized to clients for rent similar to the Daktronics Conference Center rooms. The second-floor staff offices will move to the CRC office area,” with that vacated Swiftel space becoming storage.

Other areas will see changes, including the ticket office, according to the attachment.

A presentation from the Brookings Regional Humane Society is also scheduled next week.

The council will revisit the topic of fences, walls and hedges with the third reading of the ordinance amendment proposal to allow fences with a horizontal rail design that is 70 percent open be up to 42 inches in height. They are also considering allowing hedges to be a maximum of 72 inches high if they are located between the front lot line and principal building, but only 30 inches high if located within the sight triangle at intersections.

The consent agenda includes alley assessment for First Street South and Second Street South between Fifth Avenue South and Sixth Avenue South; assessment roll for the 2017 sidewalk repairs; preliminary plats in the Timberline Addition and the Bluegill Second Addition.

In the public hearings, the council will consider: 

• A liquor license for Eponymous Brewing Co., at 126 Main Ave. S., with Sean Weber as owner; 

• An ordinance on site runoff and sediment control;

• Rezoning part of Timberline Addition from a single-family district to an apartment district and two-family district, and other changes;

• Rezoning a portion of Bluegill Second Addition and Bluegill Third Addition from agricultural to single-family district;

• Amendments to landscaping regulations; and

• A real estate exchange agreement between the city of Brookings and John Mills and Prairie Hills LLC.

There will also be a report on the National League of Cities Conference and Exposition.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.