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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) A plan to buy the First Community Credit Union building in Valley City took a step forward during a Barnes County Commission meeting Tuesday.

On a 3 to 2 vote, the commission approved a move to pursue a purchase agreement of $510,000 for the soon to be vacated space in the building.

City County Health Director Theresa Will said estimated remodeling costs for the project is under study.

Another proposal would be to have City/County Health share the 5,000 square-foot space with Barnes County Social Services.

First Community Credit Union CEO Steve Schmitz says construction of the new facility on east main next to Essentia Clinic should be completed in January.

Barnes County commissioner’s Phil Leitner and John Froehlich voted against pursuing a purchase agreement.

Leitner said, “In the last 3 months we have moved the sheriffs department, taken over 911 and bought a building for city county health and social services. We don’t have a vision for what we are doing and it’s very poor planning. We don’t know how much it will cost to remodel. It is not move in ready for city county health and social services needs. We don’t know how much it will cost to upgrade the heating and cooling system or other needed repairs.”

Leitner added, “I don’t want to grow government. Having more buildings will ultimately require extra staff and added costs to Barnes County. We don’t have a plan for what will go in the court house now that we moved the entire first floor out of it.” Referring to the city county health and social service offices once they move out of the Barnes County courthouse.