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The Weber Center at 2380 Washington Blvd. in Ogden, photographed Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner file photo

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The Weber Center at 2380 Washington Blvd. in Ogden, the seat of county government operations, is photographed Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner file photo

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OGDEN — Weber County officials have talked in recent years about selling the Weber Center in downtown Ogden, uprooting and moving county operations elsewhere.

On Tuesday, though, county commissioners seemingly boosted their commitment to the structure, approving a deal to acquire the 25% stake in the building at 2380 Washington Blvd. that’s held by Land of OG, a Woodbury Corp. subsidiary. The deal, when it closes next week, will give the county 100% ownership of the building.

“We feel like this is a good step, giving us control of what we do here,” said Sean Wilkinson, head of the Weber County Community and Economic Development Department. County officials haven’t disclosed the acquisition price pending close of the deal on Dec. 28.

Owning 100% of the building, county officials will have more leeway to move offices, shift the layout and make other changes to make the structure “more customer friendly” for those with business with the county, Wilkinson said. Sharing ownership, county and Land of OG reps have had to reach accord on changes to the building.

“It’s nice to own your own home and the driveway connected to it,” said Commissioner Jim Harvey.

The structure houses mainly county government operations, including the county commission, clerk/auditor, public defender, county treasurer and county assessor offices. Some private businesses also use space in the building and they’ll be able to remain, at least for now.

Over the next year, Wilkinson said, county officials will sort out longer-term plans for the building.

In 2020, Weber County officials said they were mulling a move from the Weber Center, in part to avoid the possibility of having to rebuild a parking garage on the east side of the structure. The three-level, 237-space garage was torn down that year after sustaining damage in a March 18, 2020, earthquake and replaced with a 95-space surface lot.

This year, county officials were also mulling a deal to sell the building, but County Commissioner Scott Jenkins said it ultimately fizzled. The would-be buyer offered $16 million, down from a prior $20 million proposal, and county officials mistakenly thought the lower price tag meant they’d be able to stay in the structure rent-free for four years.

Jenkins said the county is still obliged to enlarge the surface parking lot on the east side of the Weber Center, per Ogden City requirements. He thinks adding another level of parking should suffice. Wilkinson said specifics on the parking lot expansion will have to be hammered out with the city.