Montgomery County’s 127 N. Main Project Could Run $20,000 Over Budget

Article Summary: Chief Probation Officer Banee Ulrici told the Montgomery County Board’s Buildings & Grounds Committee on Aug. 4, 2026, that renovation of the county building at 127 N. Main in Hillsboro is expected to finish $10,000 to $20,000 over budget, with flooring, security and technology work still to be completed. The committee deferred any recommendation on a new concrete ramp for the building because the lowest of three proposals had not been submitted in writing.

127 N. Main Project Key Points:

Ulrici said she anticipates the project running $10,000 to $20,000 over budget, citing outstanding flooring, security and technology work.

Three proposals to build a concrete ramp on the north side of the building ranged from $15,000 to $23,500; the committee elected to wait for a written version of the low proposal before recommending anything.

The committee also reviewed a $2,919 proposal from HRC to repair the existing front ramp and back steps, and a $1,038 proposal from Dan Heise Plumbing to move an outside water tap and raise a clean-out.

No motion was recorded on any part of the item. Committee actions are recommendations only; nothing binds the county until the full County Board acts.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — The Montgomery County Board’s Buildings & Grounds Committee was told on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, that the county’s renovation of its building at 127 N. Main in Hillsboro is expected to run $10,000 to $20,000 over budget, with substantial work still outstanding.

The projection came from Chief Probation Officer Banee Ulrici, who reported to the committee that flooring, security and technology work remain to be completed at the building, according to the meeting minutes. The minutes record no discussion of how the county would cover the difference, and no motion was made in response.

The committee met at 8:30 a.m. in the County Board Room on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse, #1 Courthouse Square, Hillsboro. Committee Chair Mark Hughes led the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Connie Beck, Keith Hancock, Roy Schieferdecker, Russ Beason and Doug Donaldson were recorded present; Cody Gudgel was recorded absent.

Ramp Decision Deferred Over Missing Paperwork

The largest single piece of remaining work discussed Tuesday was a concrete ramp on the north side of the building. The committee reviewed three proposals ranging from $15,000 to $23,500, according to the minutes. Because the low proposal was not submitted in writing, the committee elected to await a written proposal before making a recommendation.

The minutes do not name any of the three bidders, do not identify which figure belonged to which bidder, and do not record the middle proposal amount. They also do not state when the committee expects the written proposal, or whether the item will return at its next meeting.

Two smaller proposals were reviewed at the same time. A proposal from HRC would repair the existing front ramp and back steps for $2,919. A proposal from Dan Heise Plumbing would move an outside water tap and raise a clean-out for $1,038. The minutes record that the committee reviewed both. They record no motion, no second and no vote on either.

That posture is consistent with the county’s practice on items titled “Update/Approval” on its committee agendas, a title that appears on every numbered item on Tuesday’s agenda. A majority of such items across this county’s committees receive discussion but no motion. The agenda title alone does not indicate that an item was approved.

What the Record Does Not Say

The Aug. 4 minutes do not state the project’s budget, do not state how much has been spent to date, and do not state against what figure Ulrici’s $10,000-to-$20,000 estimate was measured. Nor do they record a target completion or occupancy date.

Separately, and at a different meeting, county records presented to the Finance & Budget Committee on July 9 put the repairs and improvements budget for the building at $100,000, with $63,799.21 spent and $36,200.79 remaining as of that date. That figure was not before the Buildings & Grounds Committee on Tuesday and does not appear in its minutes.

County documents have referred to the 127 N. Main property under several different names, including the Specialty Courts building and the new probation building. This story uses the street address, which is the designation the committee’s own minutes use.

Any recommendation the committee ultimately makes on the ramp, or on the HRC and Dan Heise Plumbing proposals, would be a recommendation only. Committee-level action in Montgomery County does not award a contract, obligate money or authorize work. The item would go to the full County Board, and no contractor is engaged and no funds are spent until the board acts. The minutes record no date for board consideration.