Monners Aptrose Commissioprove $24 Million Government Campus Despite Mixed Resident Opinions

Montrose County Commissioners have greenlit a $24 million project to construct a new government campus, sparking both excitement and skepticism among residents.

A Long-Awaited Upgrade

According to Sue Hansen, Montrose County Commissioner for District 2, the new facility will consolidate various departments currently housed in a nearly 70-year-old building.

“We’re really excited about it,” Hansen stated. “We think this will enhance services to the community.”

The building, planned to be over 43,000 square feet, will be located next to the County Courthouse. While slightly smaller than the existing facility, it promises to be more efficient and accessible for both employees and residents.

“This will be a much more efficient process,” Hansen explained. “It’ll be easier access for folks.”

The Cost Debate

The decision comes after years of deliberation, with discussions starting in 2021. Proponents argue the cost of repairing the old building far outweighs constructing a new one.

“It’s going to be something in the range of $45 to $49 million to fix up,” Hansen said. “You can see the cost-effective nature of spending $22 million or $24 million with the contingency, as opposed to that.”

Efforts were also made to lower the project’s price tag.

“Originally, when we looked at the building, it came in at $25 million plus contingency,” Hansen said. “But we asked them to value-engineer it so that we could take out anything that would be considered a bell and a whistle. It’s still a very nice building, but it’s more leaning toward function now than anything fancy.”

Residents’ Concerns

Despite these measures, some residents question the necessity of the project.

“I think the building serves its purpose. It looks like it’s in great shape, and I think the city can definitely use the money and other resources than building a brand new building,” said one anonymous resident.

Others argue that the funds could be better allocated to long-neglected issues.

“Montrose County needs to put money into actual road repairs,” another resident commented.

“You think eventually a new high school,” another suggested. “It would be great to kind of plan that and set it aside.”

A Practical Need

Hansen acknowledged these concerns but emphasized the pressing need for a new facility.

“You really have to make sure you’re wise about the choices that you make,” Hansen said. “Some people may think that’s too expensive, but at this point… it’s a need, not a want.”