Merced County considers buying empty County Bank building

Will downtown's vacant County Bank building become the new home to Merced County government workers?

The supervisors could move forward with such a plan this morning.

The supervisors are expected to approve the purchase contract for the former County Bank headquarters, 550 W. Main St., for $6.9 million from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The FDIC has been negotiating with the county since Oct. 20, 2009, for the purchase.

The $6.9 million, plus closing costs, will come from Tobacco Securitization funds, which are required to be spent on building projects. The closing costs aren't expected to exceed $315,000. The county already fronted $345,000 as earnest money for the building from a public works fund; that money will be repaid, according to board documents.

The supervisors are also considering whether to approve additional funding for a "re-use study" that would move offices from rented spaces into county-owned buildings to save money. The study would examine grouping related departments together, providing close access to the courts for justice-related departments and providing better access to the public.

The supervisors originally approved a $300,000 contract for the work to analyze uses for the Mercy Medical Center Merced building once it becomes empty in June.

Last month, the department of public works and county administration proposed adding the County Bank building, vacant environmental health building and two administration buildings located at M and 22nd streets to the study.

The additions would bump the contract to $370,000.

The supervisors put off a vote on the increased contract last month. The study would be hastened to make use of the available vacant spots as soon as possible, according to board information.

The supervisors will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Merced County Administration Building, 2222 M St.

Also on Tuesday's agenda:

An item from the Merced County Economic Development Corp., MCEDCO, to hire Scott Galbraith as a consultant. Galbraith resigned as president and CEO of the organization on Jan. 31. If the supervisors approve MCEDCO's agreement with Galbraith, he will stay on until a replacement is hired.

A resolution that would restrict parking along Walnut Avenue in Winton, near Winfield Elementary School. A 50-foot stretch of the road's south side will be reserved exclusively for school bus loading and unloading, if the resolution passes.

A second roads resolution that would convert the intersection of Hatch and Dunn roads to an all-way stop. Currently, only traffic on Dunn Road has to stop. While the intersection's traffic and accident history doesn't automatically warrant the two additional stop signs, foliage does block the view of southbound cars on Hatch. The request for a change came from Supervisor Mike Nelson.

Reporter Danielle E. Gaines can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or dgaines@mercedsun-star.com.