Planning commission updates ADA transition plan; public meeting set for Aug. 6

Kylene Swackhammer of the Planning Commission told the County Council that an updated ADA transition plan covering county-owned facilities is underway, that all building assessments are complete, and that two $5,000 grants will help pay for the update.

Swackhammer said the plan includes site visits, photographs, inspections and a transition schedule that estimates costs and timelines to address accessibility deficiencies. She named eight facilities in the current update: the County Building, the Justice Center, the Highway Department, EMS Station No. 3, the Emergency Management/911 dispatch building, the Fairgrounds, the Health Department and the new Mental Health facility building.

Swackhammer said the consulting firm American StructurePoint conducted the building assessments and that the planning office has updated the Title VI policy and the grievance policy; an on-line survey and a paper survey are available for public input. A public input meeting is scheduled for Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. at the Emergency Management Agency Building, 210 South Jefferson Street, and the plan is expected to be completed by Aug. 19 with an internal target of Aug. 11 for draft completion.

Swackhammer told councilors the plan must be updated every three years to maintain eligibility for federal funding that supports road, bridge and trail projects and reimbursable planning work. The council approved creating a fund line for two ADA-related grants (two $5,000 grants from the Ball Brothers Foundation and the Community Foundation) earlier in the meeting.