The Washington County Board of Supervisors are considering this building, the former Pamida store, for county offices. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Washington County departments need more space than they currently have and the Washington County Board of Supervisors is considering options. The board recently looked at the former Pamida building at 1701 East Washington Street in Washington and had it inspected. Supervisor Abe Miller said the report showed insulation would need to be replaced, the roof would need to be recoated, and the septic system would have to be updated and the building would need to be tied into the city’s sewer system. Miller estimated the insulation replacement to cost about $100,000 and the roof restoration at about $100,000. He didn’t have an estimate for the heating and cooling system, part of which is 38 years old.

Supervisor Stan Stoops said the only way he’d accept the building would be if it was given to the county for free, “I don’t like that building, that building has too many issues.”

Supervisor Jack Seward said it could house more than one department, “I just see a lot more usable space out there, alleviate some of the space needs. … This is an opportunity, I think, and it’s going to cost us some money, but I think in the long run, I would seriously like to look at it.”

The building is listed for sale at $600,000 and is 35,600 square feet. No official action was taken and the board tabled further discussions of the property for another meeting.