Most of the commissioners support the plan to move county administrative operations from downtown Grand Rapids to a new building on their Fuller Avenue campus. Commissioner Monica Sparks thinks it will be easier than going downtown for residents who have business with the county.
“And then some of our facilities are you know older facilities so I like we are talking about moving to a different space.”
But commissioner Stephen Wooden would prefer a plan that keeps county offices in downtown Grand Rapids.
“Keeping our administration downtown has a true added benefit
“Being in close proximity to other major players in our community.”
County administrator Al Vanderberg says administrative offices would move out of the city to Fuller, the prosecutor would relocate to the courthouse leaving their current home at 82 Ionia vacant and expendable.
”Once the prosecutor is here and once the other offices have gone to Fuller than that building would be sold.”
Proceeds from the sale of the building at 82 Ionia would help offset the estimated 70 million dollar construction cost for a new county building and relocation expenses.
