Governmental Center Repairs Top County Agenda

Grand Traverse County commissioners will tackle a full agenda today (Wednesday) that includes multiple areas of concern with the Governmental Center’s physical condition and necessary repairs, a ballot proposal this fall to renew a GT Conservation District millage, new county staff positions, and more.

Governmental Center
An assessment of the structure and foundation of the Governmental Center has identified “multiple areas of concern within the basement structural system and foundation components, including concrete deterioration, corrosion of embedded and exposed steel, moisture intrusion, cracking, spalling, and rust jacking,” according to County Deputy Director of Facilities Chris Comeaux.

The Governmental Center assessment by staff and contractors Machin Engineering “indicates long-term moisture infiltration and material degradation requiring further engineering evaluation and prioritized corrective action,” Comeaux wrote in a memo to commissioners. Corrosion (pictured) is affecting the building’s “structural steel beams, foundation walls, steel decking, sill plates, and perimeter structural components,” he said. Machin Engineering confirmed in a separate memo that “corrosion was evident around the perimeter of the foundation” of the Governmental Center, which was built in the late 1970s and is jointly owned and occupied by Grand Traverse County and the City of Traverse City.

Machin Engineering recommended several priority areas for repairs. The first is bringing corroded beams back into compliance, as they don’t currently meet code requirements for load-carry capacities for bending. A second priority is repairing exterior joints around multiple wall lines. The firm said it was preparing cost estimates for repairs and aimed to have those for commissioners at today’s meeting.
“A higher order and more permanent repair would include the total replacement of the exterior walkway concrete, steel decking, portions of the facade along the base, along with exterior concrete required to be removed for excavation for the repair of buried joints,” Machin Engineering wrote. “This is priority three. This would come at a substantial cost.”

The firm is requesting commissioners at least commit to fixing the corroded beams. If they don’t, it will result “in a reduction in occupancy levels in the rooms immediately above the two beams,” the firm warned. Fixing the exterior joints is not immediately required but will add “years of service” for the building, Machin Engineering said. The discussion about repairs, which will likely also require city input and potential cost-sharing, comes as county and city leaders consider the long-term future of the Governmental Center and whether to fully renovate the facility, complete basic fixes, or even possibly consider selling and/or redeveloping the property.

Also on today’s county commission agenda…
> Commissioners will consider approving a request from the Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) to put a millage renewal on the November 3 ballot. The ballot proposal would renew and reset an existing 0.1-mill levy for a 10-year term through 2036. According to GTCD, the millage – originally approved by voters in 2018 – has “established a stable local funding source that has allowed the District to strengthen operations, secure additional outside funding, and expand conservation services throughout Grand Traverse County.” The millage renewal would generate an estimated $871,492 in its first year. The estimated cost to a household owning a $100,000 property ($50,000 SEV) would be $5 annually.

> After months of discussion about accounting delays and staffing challenges in the county treasurer’s office, commissioners will consider approving a memorandum of understanding in which Treasurer Jamie Callahan has agreed to “temporarily assign certain administrative and accounting support functions” to the county’s finance department, according to a memo from Alger. Those functions include “bank reconciliations, financial recording and accounting activities, and certain reporting and accounting support responsibilities” related to the Pavilions. The agreement doesn’t “diminish any statutory authority or responsibility of the treasurer” and is intended to “ensure financial management while preserving the treasurer’s oversight and accountability,” the memo states.

> Commissioners will consider approving the creation of a new countywide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) coordinator. According to Deputy County Administrator Chris Forsyth, the existing “fragmented” system of having different departments handle different requests – combined with “growing request volume” – has “exceeded staff capacity and complicated processing.” The pay range for the new position is listed as $63,844-$79,775. The position’s cost will be “offset by the collection of the appropriate FOIA request fees,” Forsyth says.

> Also related to staffing, commissioners will consider a Sheriff’s Office request to reclassify a corrections officer position to a new crime analyst position. According to a memo from Captain Chris Clark, the crime analyst “would utilize a variety of resources including crime-mapping technology, open-source intelligence technology, the current records management system as well as the recently added Flock LPR (license plate reader) system” to help gather “essential information for investigations.” The position would also identify crime trends and patterns and help produce reports for public meetings.  

> Commissioners will hear a presentation on Annika Place II, an affordable housing project from Woda Cooper Companies that recently opened its doors on Hastings Street. The four-story, 52-unit building has 19 units dedicated for permanent supportive housing in partnership with Goodwill Northern Michigan. Twenty-two of the units are targeted for residents with an annual income between 70-80 percent of the area median income (AMI). The project received funding support from the city, county, and state, among other entities.

> Finally, commissioners will hear an update from the Grand Traverse County Road Commission on efforts to convene a steering committee to address the future of South Airport Road. The Road Commission is seeking to have two county commissioners serve on the committee, which will also include two road commissioners, two Garfield Township trustees, and the county drain commissioner. A larger community advisory group will also provide input on solutions for the corridor.