COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners approved a request from the Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday to spend up to $150,000 for the furnishings and equipment in the new Evidence and Patrol Garage.
The total project budget is $1-point-2 million. DH Roberts of Jonesville won the right to build the new garage with a total bid of over $886,000.
The garage will fill a need for additional vehicle and evidence storage that was deferred during the initial construction of the current Branch County Jail. The project is expected to be funded using excess mileage funds. Besides the vehicle and evidence storage, the new building will also provide a temporary housing location for inmates in the event of a disaster at the main jail.
In other business, the Commissioners formally approved a proposal from County Administrator Frank Walsh to spend up to $1-point-5 million during 2027 and 2028 to fix various infrastructure issues in county buildings.
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 have final authority. 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.
The Commissioners also gave approval to the Veterans Affairs Office to spend between $500 and $1,000 to purchase market animals at the Branch County 4-H Fair. The purchased livestock will be processed and used to supplement the Veterans Affairs food assistance program.
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