County's Capital Improvements Committee Considers Projects, Budgeting

The Effingham County Board's Capital Improvements Advisory Committee did a little budgeting this week. 

The County budget has a balance of $172,115.51 for Capital Improvements, but there is just over $361,000 in the line item for contingencies. The discussion by committee members Josh Douthit, Dave Campbell and Sandra Gillet led to plans to ask the full Board to move $360,000 to capital improvements.

As far as specific items to be addressed, the committee made $200,000 available for the window replacement project at the County Office Building. It's hoped a vote on the window replacement project will come at the Board's May meeting, and that the cost will come in closer to $150,000. 

The Committee discussed allocations for replacement copiers in 2027 and money for new postage meters in the next couple of years. County officials are also discussing new and additional security cameras, integrating the jail, the county building, and the courts building. There was also discussion of security cameras in the new gazebo planned on the Courthouse lawn.

Committee members also discussed new or expanded animal control facilities, mindful that the County and City now have a joint agreement for animal control.

There was also discussion of a morgue. The thought is not just the number of deaths in the county, but making the facility available to neighboring counties at a charge. 

The ideas are expected to next be considered by the Board's Tax and Finance Committee before it goes before the full board.