Orange County NC Website
13 <br /> • Functions—the functions listed on page 5 of the report may need to be changed. In the <br /> previous County Space Needs Report, Land Services included more departments. She <br /> likes the idea of consolidation, but she is troubled about Recreation and Parks <br /> administration and ERCD going to the Blackwood Farm. She thought this was only a <br /> park, not a place for county office buildings. She thinks these should be with the County <br /> campus. <br /> • Valley Forge—she asked why is the storage not going to be put there. She does not <br /> believe this is an appropriate place for ERCD and other offices. <br /> Pam Jones said that the other option is better for storage. She said that they had <br /> envisioned taking part of the money from the parks operation base and storage facilities and do <br /> a major upfit of the Valley Forge building so that it would be more of a professional building. <br /> Pam Jones said that she talked with Dave Stancil, who said that he was aligned closely <br /> with Land Services and Agricultural Services, but spent more hours with the Parks function. <br /> Commissioner Gordon indicated that Dave Stancil spent less than half of his time with Parks <br /> and Recreation. <br /> Pam Jones said that the Recreation and Parks strategic plan is still a draft and when <br /> they flesh that out it may be decided to put them with Land Services. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that ERCD might be better served by staying at the <br /> Planning and Ag building until it comes time for it to go to the final destination. She would like <br /> to see an effort for Planning and Environmental Health to get their new facilities sooner. <br /> Pam Jones said that Planning is in Tier 1A, which means that construction should start <br /> between 2005-mid 2008. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the County Commissioners should make a point to <br /> adopt the things that need to be adopted soon (i.e., the Space Needs Study, the green building <br /> standards, the Southern Human Services Center master plan). Regarding what is built when, it <br /> will have to be fit into the CIP and then the debt capacity. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the issue with ERCD and suggested that Dave <br /> Stancil put in writing what he thinks about it. He said that the short-term solution would provide <br /> 960 square feet of expansion for Planning and the long-term goal would be to bring the <br /> functions back to the same place. <br /> Commissioner Foushee agreed with Commissioner Jacobs on adopting parts of the plan <br /> that are ready and move forward. She pointed out some of the offices that are not so visible as <br /> far as needs, such as the Board of Elections and Economic Development and asked about <br /> short term plans that could be made. Board of Elections especially has some storage issues. <br /> Pam Jones said that this harkens back to the previous space study. When the <br /> courthouse is finished, the Economic Development Department is scheduled to go down to the <br /> Hillsborough Savings Bank. Board of Elections would take over the entire floor of the King <br /> Street Annex. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis would like to take action to adopt this study. He encouraged the <br /> staff to look at the facilities when it is raining and to take some pictures. He was at the Valley <br /> Forge facility last week when it was raining and there was standing water. The County <br /> Commissioners need to take a field trip to look at the facilities to see what uses will fit specific <br /> properties. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said the master plan for the Southern Human Services Center <br /> should be decided by the Commissioners. Rich Shaw proclaimed the back portion of property <br /> at the Southern Human Services Center as natural and sacred land. He thinks that the Board <br /> of County Commissioners should make those decisions, which means the master plan in <br /> tonight's packet is not correct. <br />