WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are looking at having a feasibility study done on the eventual move of the county coroner’s office to a new location.

Last week, it was announced the estimated cost of renovating the former Trumbull County Health Department building at 176 Chestnut St. NE to become the new coroner’s building escalated from an estimated $300,000 to $2.2 million because of required modifications that would need done to meet state standards for morgues.

The Trumbull County Combined Health District purchased a former bank building in Cortland and moved there in December.

After the cost announcement, it was suggested the county look at an alternative site on property near Trumbull’s Emergency Management Agency at 640 North River Road NW. There was an estimate that a new building could be constructed there for approximately $1.5 million.

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa on Tuesday questioned whether a building could be constructed at that price that would meet the coroner’s needs.

After exchanging several emails with Dave Snyder of the architectural firm Baker, Bednar & Associates, Cantalamessa suggested having a feasibility study conducted.

“He said the numbers (provided last week) were preliminary numbers, but we don’t know,” Cantalamessa said. “We don’t know on either end whether the numbers are completely concrete.”

The feasibility study would look at the potential EMA property and what those numbers would look like.

“It would be an apples to apples comparison,” Cantalamessa said. “I know the cost of construction is through the roof. We need to do our due diligence and look at every option. We’re looking at a substantial investment either way from a fiscal and financial perspective to make sure we are doing something that is in the best interest of Trumbull County and not rushing into one decision or the other.”

Commissioner Denny Malloy agreed that a feasibility study should be done.

“I just want what is best,” Malloy said. “To retool the (Chestnut) building and have them squeeze it in there if they can be on one floor where they can back the truck into an enclosed area.”

Malloy expressed concerns about what the county would have to do to reconfigure the Chestnut Street building, including adding a specialized HVAC system, adding an elevator to move corpses being brought in for autopsies and having offices on the building’s second floor.

“If we can be in the same cost range and have it fit perfectly, where the coroner can say what he wants and it is the best situation for his employees and the public, I think we have to listen to that,” Malloy said.

Malloy understands the appeal of finding the best use for a building the county already owns, but said that does not mean it is the best option.

“It (the Chestnut Street building) is probably a $30,000 market value location that is in deplorable condition as it is right now,” Malloy said. “We are probably rebuilding the whole thing from the foundation up. Just because we own it does not mean we have to use it.”

Cantalamessa said he wants to see what the numbers bear out to help them make the decision.

“I don’t want to see another Wean building,” he said. “I don’t want to see another empty building with storage.”