Facilities Committee Considers New County Complex
Consideration of a County Complex that would house Jefferson County government offices located in the Courthouse, Department of Education Central Office, the Mayor’s Office and County Clerk, the Jefferson County Finance Office and possibly the U.T. AG Extension Office was the topic of discussion for the County Facilities Committee, as they met on Thursday, January 14th . Though the concept of a County Complex, to be located with the Justice Center, is not new, it has now moved to the forefront with the Facilities Committee. During their last meeting, the Facilities Committee voted to bring the issue to the full County Commission to gauge their interest in pursuing a County Complex. Committee Chairman Turner stated that he had raised the issue and there was no dissenting comment on the proposed project.
Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri, who has long been a proponent of a County Complex, brought a list of pros associated with moving toward a County Complex and cons of the local government offices staying in their current location. County Facilities Director David Longmire, presented information that indicated that the Courthouse, though on the National Historic Registry and the oldest functioning Court House in Tennessee, can be sold. He took committee members to a room that was described as filled with wires to show the needed upgrades in the Courthouse, which were identified as phone and technology related. According to Longmire, because the building is on the National Historic Registry and alternations to the building must be approved, ADA regulations that cannot be complied with have been answered with signage and other means that have met the legal benchmark.
The issue of a County Complex was a topic of discussion around the time that the new Commission was seated but extensive County debt appeared to quell real discussion on the issue. During the current fiscal year, mold was discovered in the Department of Education Building and the DOE moved to office space at the First Tennessee Bank Building in Dandridge. Until this month, there was no charge for that space. This calendar year, the cost will be $4,800 per month, which includes rent, utilities, housekeeping, insurance and maintenance, and it will be funded by the County. The estimated cost to clean up the mold and make the necessary adjustments in the building to keep mold from growing are around the $500,000. Additionally, other County buildings are in need of some maintenance, according to information provided at the meeting. The estimated cost for a County Complex was reported to be in the neighborhood of $10 million dollars and Mayor Palmieri stated that could be possible to fund the project through in house finances ( tax increase), bonds or a lease purchase option. Chairman Turner and other committee members raised the question of obligation to make needed repairs before selling any buildings, and some indicated their unwillingness to sell the Historic Courthouse.
At the request of the County Budget Committee, the Facilities Committee addressed a proposal that would have the County fund the renovation of some of the School Transportation Building ( 3000 ft) for Central Office use at a cost of $213,000. The space in question was previously used as classroom space for CTE students at Jefferson County High School during the Building 8 renovation. School officials stated that they need 7000 ft of space to accommodate their needs and that the location is not suitable for the Central Office.
The Committee approved allowing the Mayor time to gather specific information, in the form of a cost comparison plan, regarding a County Complex and return with that information inside of 90 days ( Tim Seals/Bales motion/2nd). In addition, with a Motion from Committee Member Dockery and 2nd from Seals, the Committee tabled the issue of renovation of the Transportation Building for the DOE until the Mayor returns with information on a County Complex.
In other business, the Committee addressed the needs of the senior center in Strawberry Plains. At the request of Commissioner Blevins, the Department of Education is investigating the possibility of donating a portable classroom to the County Commission and the County Commission can then donate it to seniors for use for a senior center. The issue was rolled to the next meeting when more information will be available.
