COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Administrator Frank Walsh wants the county to spend up to $1.5 million during 2027 and 2028 to fix various infrastructure issues in county buildings.
He detailed his repair plan to the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their work session Thursday morning. Ironically, it came on a stuffy morning in the courthouse as the temperature in some offices was near 80-degrees due to ongoing issues with the building’s air conditioning units.
Walsh stated in his memo, “Branch County owns several properties that require a coordinated plan to protect our long-term interests.”
Walsh said some of the HVAC systems have reached a point of failure. He added the floor at the Animal Shelter needs to be replaced, the windows at the Annex need to be fixed so that water does not get inside during heavy rainstorms, and the condition of the building roofs is often compromised.
Walsh recommended to the commissioners that a committee consisting of employees from several buildings be formed in order to draft a 2027-2028 Capital Improvement Plan. Under this plan, the commissioners would appoint a member to the committee. They would have final authority in the review of the CIP document and appropriation discretion. County Complex Manager Mike Plyley would manage the project and the committee.
Walsh wants the committee to focus only on “needs” not “wants.” Their goal would be to bring back a two-year plan that should be fully implemented by the end of 2028. The funding would consist of $1,000,000 in the 2027 budget and an additional $500,000 in 2028.
According to Walsh, the plan would be paid for out of the former ARPA funds which has a current balance of over $2-point-3 million. Walsh feels the improvements can be paid for with cash and that the county would not have to assume any debt.
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