There’s still no consensus among Flathead County commissioners about where to build a new Agency on Agency facility, despite an architectural report that recommends a 2-acre site north of the fairgrounds.

Commissioners Gary Krueger and Cal Scott discussed the report with county grantwriter Debbie Pierson on Thursday. Scott favors the report’s recommendation but Krueger stands by his opinion that property south of the existing courthouse campus is the best option.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist was out of town on county business, and she apparently will cast the deciding vote if and when the commissioners decide to officially weigh in on an option.

The preliminary architectural report was completed by Kenneth Huff of Architects Design Group and is a requirement for a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant the county is pursuing to help pay for a new building to house services provided by the Agency on Aging.

Pierson advised the commissioners that supporting the recommended building site north of the fairgrounds will give the county the best chance of winning the block grant.

“If you don’t select the preferred site, it could potentially reduce our scoring,” Pierson said. “There would have to be significant reasons why you would choose another option.”

The county is using the city of Kalispell’s slot for the block grant application due May 17. The Kalispell City Council will hold a public hearing on the grant proposal May 6.

A tentative plan for funding the new Agency on Aging facility is to use the $450,000 block grant if it’s awarded, then have the county put in $500,000 and use a low-interest Intercap loan through the Montana Board of Investments for the remainder.

If the block grant is awarded, the county could go to bid with the construction project a year from now, with completion by November 2014, Pierson said.

The estimated cost to build an 11,000-square-foot building would be $2.28 million for the lots south of the courthouse and $2.37 million for the site north of the fairgrounds.

Krueger said he sees both sites as “very good options,” but is concerned there may be higher operational costs at the fairgrounds site. He said he believes having the City-County Health Department close to an Agency on Aging facility south of the courthouse would benefit seniors.

The architectural report said expansion would be limited at the site south of the courthouse by the ability to purchase and demolish adjacent buildings for additional square footage and additional parking. There was no estimate on what acquiring that extra land would cost.

“We have time to get the parking in order as we grow,” Krueger said.

Krueger also said the county needs to consider what the information technology would be for both sites.

The commissioners’ chambers were filled with seniors interested in moving the building project forward. During a public comment session earlier Thursday morning, a few seniors testified about the need to get the Agency on Aging out of the rented barn on Kelly Road that no longer is big enough for the agency’s programs.

Scott said the architectural report speaks for itself and he fully supports the recommendation to build the facility at the north fairgrounds site.

“We need to proceed with the strongest form of grant [application],” he said. “To delay and curtail the project would be irresponsible. If the people of the county want to proceed with this project, we will find a way to do it.”

While the grant application is focused on the Agency for Aging’s needs, yet to be addressed is where to house the county’s 4-H and Extension Service programs. Those offices currently are crammed into the Health Department at the Earl Bennett Building.

An earlier proposal to build a facility at the fairgrounds near the Trade Center would have put the Agency on Aging, 4-H and Extension programs all under one roof. That idea has been shelved.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.