AUBURN — Androscoggin County leaders want to slash more than two-thirds of the cost of fixing the aging county courthouse.

The alternative is “unthinkable,” Commission Chairman Randall Greenwood said Friday.

A 2011 plan for the Civil War-era building came with a price tag of more than $34 million.

“Obviously, the project was larger than we expected,” Greenwood said.

Rather than whittle away at the proposal created by Auburn-based firm Harriman, the commissioners are asking for a glimpse of a much smaller redux. This plan would unlikely include grand new entrances or the purchase of new building to house county departments.

“If we had $10 million, how would we prioritize it?” Greenwood said. “My gut tells me it would be in infrastructure, electrical and plumbing and that kind of stuff.”

In the next few days, an invitation will go to the county’s building committee, asking members if they are willing to reconvene to talk over possible changes.

“We don’t want to let this die,” Greenwood said.

Changes need to be made, he insisted. Prior commissions put off needed maintenance and investment in the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Harriman and Ricci Greene Associates of Providence, R.I., authored a 123-page report detailing the building’s many flaws and possible changes including: the purchase of the YMCA property next door, additions and a multi-level parking garage. The recommendations ranged from$34.4 million to $36.8 million to implement.

The scaled-back plan will include changes to the Superior Court and other facilities, all of which need to work together. Work could be divided into phases or incorporated into a capital improvement plan.

It will take more time, Greenwood insisted.

“Some people have made this sound so quick and easy,” he said. “But there are a lot of factors that change.”

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