The proposed Sunnyview Home renovations project might need the expertise of a construction manager to ensure that all goes smoothly. That is for the county commissioners to decide.

However, what is puzzling is that the commissioners only now are considering the question. It would seem that if a construction manager was going to be employed, that decision should have been made early on, so the manager could have been on hand to offer advice and opinions at the time of project bidding.

That won't be the case for the Sunnyview project. Four contracts totaling $4.8 million already have been awarded, while the commissioners still don't have a handle on how to proceed on the construction manager question.

In discussing the project manager position, it was pointed out that last October the commissioners became aware of more than $22,000 in changes made in the construction of the new $2 million Butler County Communications Center without their prior approval.

Without prior approval, those changes were, without question, out of order.

Those who support the idea of hiring a construction manager for Sunnyview believe having such a person aboard would prevent a repeat of the communications center experience.

Perhaps. However, the plan currently in place is for a member of the Sunnyview staff to work closely with the project's architect to oversee construction — a setup that, theoretically, could accomplish the same goals as those tied to an official construction manager, if ground rules associated with that responsibility are properly laid out.

The fact that a construction manager could involve a salary outlay of about $100,000 should encourage close study by the commissioners as to whether the amount of the outlay would be consistent with the benefits expected to be derived from the hiring.

Still, the lingering question remains why county leaders didn't deal with the issue much sooner.

County officials haven't yet scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for the Sunnyview work, but that will take place in the not-too-distant future.

Whether there is enough time to advertise the construction manager position, conduct interviews and make a hiring decision — if that ultimately is how the county decides to proceed — prior to the start of construction can only be a matter of conjecture at this point.

Dr. William DiCuccio, Sunnyview executive and medical director, said he would prefer to spend the money that would be allocated to the construction manager position for items such as new furniture.

His thinking is reasonable.

The fact that construction bids came in significantly lower than anticipated shouldn't be an excuse for adding what some people might regard as unnecessary.

Because of the timing associated with the start of construction, the commissioners should strive to expedite the decision on this question.