MONROE — Though it took a few extra months to complete, the Green County Government Services Building is up and running with minor finishing touches left to be done.

Construction of the building began in late April 2017, County Clerk Mike Doyle said. It was meant to be completed in July, but was pushed back. He added that the building was under budget, not quite hitting the anticipated $17 million yet. 

Human Services Director Greg Holcomb said that was because in the early stages of planning, everyone was conservative about spending. 

“Everybody had to work really hard to make this happen,” Holcomb said. 

The three-story 57,000 square-foot building took four years of preparation. Doyle said a committee of Green County Supervisors was organized to fine-tune each element of the building, from the furniture to the floor tiles. 

Initially, planners tried to limit spending as much as possible, knowing that “it’s always easier to add later,” Holcomb said. And they are, planning to install large locally purchased television monitors in the lower-level meeting rooms. Doyle said the building also needs some wiring and final steps in the HVAC installation before it can be considered complete.

Doyle and Holcomb both noted the building that previously held county departments was not adequate for their needs. 

“We were using that space in a way that was never designed to be used,” Doyle said of the former mental health hospital and nursing home facility. 

Holcomb said the new building addresses three main issues: heating and cooling, confidentiality and security.

“Anything is an upgrade from what we moved out of,” Holcomb said. 

He added that confidentiality will be better because the Human Services Department, spread out across the second and third floors, has proper separation, eliminating the possibility of overhearing conversations through thin walls. Doyle said the county would not have been able to heat the building this winter.

Security measures were a notable change for staff. 

Health Director RoAnn Warden said the addition of a front desk receptionist was welcome, from fielding calls to providing a person for visitors to speak to when they enter the main lobby. She said overall, she can see how the building will save the county money and allow departments to provide better services.

“It’s really great,” Warden said. “It feels so professional and healthy and safe. I can feel the efficiencies.” 

Doyle, Holcomb and Warden noted that in the old building, people would enter and “wander around” looking for someone. In this building, electronic keypads separate the front lobby from the rest of the building. Entering and exiting stairwells requires a key and attempting to take the elevator to the lower level where the multipurpose rooms are located also calls for authorization from an electronic card. 

“It’s a normal situation and is pretty standard in any building like this being built now,” Doyle said, noting other recent construction throughout Wisconsin which called for similar security measures.

The doors are also more clearly marked and some departments, like the Aging & Disability Resource Center or the Veteran’s Services Department, have their own entrances. Warden credited the project as a team effort, but highlighted Doyle as the person who took on the majority of “behind the scenes” detailed work.

After hearing from members of the public interested in seeing the new space, the organizers have planned an open house Jan. 23 to provide more information for residents who wish to see the space in an informal setting. 

The county agreed to borrow $18 million over 20 years. While the building has cost less than $17 million so far, Doyle said the unknown cost factor will be the demolition of the former building. Estimates for tear down were roughly $750,000, but Doyle said he still has to receive bids for the work. He plans to review them by the end of December and bring the lowest qualified bid offer to the county board during its January meeting for consideration. But the age of the building could make the project difficult.

“Tearing down is one thing,” Doyle said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get rid of the asbestos. That’s going to be expensive.”

If all goes according to plan, the building will be demolished by May.