Lyon County’s Road and Bridge Department is beginning the early stages of development for new additions to their facilities after approval by county commissioners Thursday morning.
Commissioners unanimously approved a $511,125 engineering service agreement between the county and BG Consultants for the construction of two new maintenance facilities, a 15,000 sq ft general mechanic facility and a 4,000 sq ft bridge shop facility with a 1,600 sq ft storage extension. The total cost of the project is estimated at just over $5.3 million to be paid from sales tax and American Rescue Plan act funding.
Assistant Lyon County Engineer Jim Brull says the new additions are greatly needed both for efficiency and safety.
Current plans are for bid invitations to be sent out in November with a bid hopefully to be awarded in January. If all goes according to plan, construction could be completed by late 2023.
During Thursday’s discussions on the project, Lyon County Commission Chair Rollie Martin announced the ARP funds being put towards the project are being reallocated from the county’s “Fiber to the Home” initiative to provide rural broadband access to all county residents. Those plans stalled out last summer and according to Martin are unlikely to move forward at this time.
Martin tells KVOE News the county is not abandoning the initiative outright, saying if the right opportunity comes along they will pursue it, however, it is unclear when or if said opportunity may arise.
In other business, commissioners approved a request for six community corrections staff members to the NADCP conference in Nashville, TN, from Jul. 24 through the 28th. Commissioners also approved the replacement of a generator at the Lyon County Detention Center at a cost of $6,723 to be offset by insurance reimbursements.
The purchase of a new heating and air conditioning unit at the detention center was also approved at a cost of $20,264.
Lyon County Commissioners will reconvene Wednesday for a study session before holding their regular action session next Thursday. Both meetings will begin at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
