It will cost a little more than $3.8 million, of which the county is responsible for approximately $650,000 said Ryan Robertson, County Commission chairman and probate judge.
Construction is expected to begin in late June or early July.
“Our goal is to hopefully pay for the building with all outside funds,” Robertson said.
Robertson was authorized to establish lines of credit and sign contracts for the Cleburne County Capital Asset Improvement Plan after a split vote during the county commission’s April meeting. Robertson cast the tiebreaking vote, allowing him the power to act unilaterally in getting the joint project off the ground.
The administration building will house the county offices, EMA and 911 offices as well as a Jacksonville State University field center akin to the Little River Canyon Center near Fort Payne.
About 80 percent of the project’s funding comes from outside sources already, county administrator Steve Swafford has said in previous interviews. Roughly $2.2 million comes from the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, while JSU has committed about $1 million.
Paying the remainder requires the county to take out a loan for construction costs. The debt will be rolled into a warrant issue the county will pay off over roughly 15 years, according to a resolution passed in the April meeting.
Adding debt during slim economic times gave Commissioners Benji Langley and Emmett Owen pause and led them to vote against allowing the chairman to pursue the project.
It was unclear whether additional money would come in at that point, and the county’s portion could have risen to more than $1 million — too much of a gamble. Now that it’s been passed and the project is rolling forward, both commissioners stated they are firmly behind it.
And that additional money came in, Owen said. More money may be on the way too, he said, noting that he’s behind the plans and never had ill will toward the project.
“When it’s all said and done, it’s going to be a great facility for the amount of money,” Owen said. “Who knows … we might be getting paid to put this building up.”
Star staff writer Jason Bacaj: 256-235-3546
