Williams County commissioners on July 8 discussed preliminary plans to add electrical capacity at Courthouse Square to support events such as Jubilee and farmers markets after staff raised concerns that existing service is “maxed out.”

The presenter said they had spoken with utility contact Adam Brandt about options including directional boring under a roadway and adding a transformer; Brandt estimated a rough cost “about $20,000” for a directional bore to bring in a new line depending on where the transformer is placed.

Key points from the discussion included locating the transformer in an aesthetically acceptable place, determining which local entities would contribute to cost (the presenter said the county, the chamber, downtown development, and the municipal utility would be potential partners), and assessing redundancy and the age of existing courthouse wiring. The presenter said horizontal boring and underground utility complexity on the square make the work more expensive and require careful coordination.

Commissioners did not commit county general-fund money at the meeting but directed staff to obtain quotes and continue discussions with the municipal utility and other local partners to identify a site and cost-sharing arrangement. The presenter noted that historically other parties have paid for Courthouse Square amenities and that the county would seek partners rather than fund the work entirely from the general fund.

Next steps: staff will request formal quotes from the municipal utility, evaluate suggested transformer locations, and return to the board with cost estimates and proposed funding partners for consideration.