County Plans Phased Build For Coroner’s Office

While Crawford County has secured a building for a new coroner’s office, the rebuild is anticipated to take a few years.

County Clerk John Martin said Tuesday that the county will set aside some of the enhanced sales tax into the capital improvement fund to be used for the new office as needed.

The initial estimate for the rebuild is around $250,000.

Martin said the project will be stretched out over time, which should give the county flexibility to complete other tasks.

The commission announced Dec. 15 that it had purchased a building at 407 South Franklin Street in Cuba to be used for the new office.

The building cost around $150,000. 

Incoming coroner Darren Dake, who will be sworn into office this week, will have a mobile office and can use the Freeman building in downtown Steelville for records storage.

Since the county no longer has a place to store bodies, the commission agreed to terms with Rolla Crematoriums and Eaton Funeral Home until the facility can be built.

A first draft of the rebuild was given to commissioners on Tuesday by architect Corky Stack.