EARLY PLANS — This artistic rendition shows the architect's mental image of the proposed new Alleghany Countty Government Center. The proposed location, currently vacant, formerly housed Wilkes Community College and the Cash and Carry Grocery Store. If the plans move forward, the county would also renovate the Alleghany County Courthouse to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.

Plans for new county facilities are discussed in study Monday

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners began discussions on Monday about meeting county facilities needs.

County Manager Don Adams said he has talked with each commissioner individually about the needs and the progress of the County Facilities Study as it relates to the courthouse and the former Cash and Carry building.

The board earlier allocated about $10,000 for such a study, which was done by board architects Hemphill and Associates. The study focused on two county structures, the Alleghany County Courthouse and the Cash and Carry building, which most recently housed Wilkes Community College's Alleghany Campus.

"I am coming back to the board for some direction," Adams said, noting that the two facilities can be used and renovated to meet county needs for the next 15 years or so.

"If you were trying to build new it would be much more expensive," he said. Adams estimated that the cost of renovating the existing structures would be about $2.5 million, while the cost of building new space to replace the existing structures — not including meeting future needs — would be as much as $1.5 to $2 million more.

Under the proposed plan presented Monday, the county offices for the manager, finance office, tax office, E-911, mapping office, and register of deeds would be located in the former Cash and Carry building after an extensive renovation.

Those offices moving would allow space in the existing courthouse to bring the building up to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. Adams said the aging building currently does not meet those standards and would need a new elevator, new restrooms and other improvements to do so.

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