Okaloosa County is considering bundling three major construction projects into one financing deal to get a cheaper loan rate.
Commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward on demolishing and replacing the courthouse annex in Shalimar, construction of an addition to the Sheriff’s Office complex in Shalimar and significant renovation to the county courthouse in Crestview. Officials expect to get started on the projects in the coming year.
Facilities Maintenance Director Don Turner estimated the three projects could be financed for “$20 million plus or minus 25 percent.” He recommended the county put all three projects under one financing umbrella for "more favorable financial terms.
Renovation of the Crestview courthouse is long overdue, Turner said. The aging building, which was built in 1953 and last expanded in the 1962, needs repairs, expansion and further compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County official: Crestview courthouse renovation 'long overdue'