JAY — Franklin County commissioners will hold the first of three public hearings Monday on a proposed $4.46 million project that would enlarge the sheriff’s department building and buy and renovate another building for office space.

The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in the Jay Middle School cafeteria. The second hearing will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at Rangeley Lakes Regional High School in Rangeley. The final one will be Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the Superior Courtroom at the Franklin County Courthouse in Farmington.

Voters in all towns and organized and unorganized territories will be asked in a referendum Nov. 2 if they approve of the county issuing bonds of up to $4,465,000 to finance two public improvement projects.

The architectural firm of Smith Reuter Lull of Lewiston has worked with the county on several options over two years to alleviate space, environmental and security concerns in the county buildings.

According to an informational pamphlet, if the project costs the full $4.46 million, property taxes would rise by $6.60 per $100,000 of value.

The estimated interest rate for the bond is 2.8 percent and is only available until December. The projects would be paid for in 20 years.

The proposed cost includes $80,000, if needed, for a special issue of a bond and $264,000 for bid and construction contingency funds. The project also covers a new underground No. 2 fuel storage tank that would be shared by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department building and the jail.

Part one of the building project targets increasing space at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department building, which houses law enforcement deputies, office staff and 911 dispatchers for the communications center.

An addition would be built on the rear of the building for the communications center and sheriff’s deputies would expand into the area vacated by dispatchers.

The second part of the proposal calls for the purchase of Church Street Commons, across from the 125-year-old county courthouse, for $795,300. The county proposes to renovate the property, including adding an elevator, demolishing an annex and rebuilding a two-story addition to make it the same height as the main building.

That building would house registries of deeds and probate, probate court/meeting room, emergency management center and training area and county administration offices.

The county courthouse is 125 years old, making it difficult and expensive to renovate and update the building’s operating systems, county officials say.

With those departments moved out of the courthouse, the district attorney’s office would move up to the main floor of the courthouse and out of the ground level. The DA’s offices have had to be renovated at least twice so far due to dampness, which is causing mold and health-related issues, officials said.

Emergency Management Agency offices are also located on the ground level floor in tight quarters with no room for training.

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