The Madison County Commission approved an agreement with Fuqua & Partners Architects to design the renovation of its election warehouse and operation center in Hampton Cove.

The county will pay the firm 6.8% of the total cost of the renovation, which County Attorney Jeff Rich told commissioners would cost between $1.7 million and $1.9 million.

Madison County Probate Judge Frank Barger said the renovation is expected to be completed in time for the March 2024 primary election.

The county purchased the building not far from the Publix on U.S. 431 for $2.35 million last fall in what Barger called “a good investment.”

“We really paid for the land more so than just the building itself,” the judge said. “To build the building that we needed, we were looking at upwards of $6 million just for the facility, not including the land that we might have to purchase or acquire for construction.”

Barger put the total cost of the purchase and the renovation at between $3.5 million-$4 million.