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Commissioners seek tenant for old space

The Washington County Commissioners have not found a tenant for the space in the courthouse annex they occupied until about a month ago, but commissioner David White said Tuesday there’s no urgency in filling the space.

“I don’t want to leave it sitting empty for a long period, but it’s not one of my top priorities right now,” White said, noting that the other two commissioners – Ron Feathers and Rick Walters – will be on vacation for the next several days.

Although the space on the ground floor of the building next to the courthouse on Putnam Street could be leased out to a private tenant, White said that would be a “last resort.”

“There are county offices now paying lease money for their space. I haven’t approached any of them yet, so I don’t want to say who they are, but I’m reasonably certain we can find someone to move into it,” he said.

The space until recently was committed to the Washington County Veterans Service Commission, but backlash from their client veterans persuaded the commission to revisit that decision. The county was informed two weeks ago that the office was going to stay where it is, on Pike Street near Walmart, but by then the county commissioners had already moved their offices to a county-owned building at 204 Davis St., which it now shares with the Children Services Office.

A meeting of the the Veterans Service Commission board in June revealed that moving from the Pike Street office, where the lease is about $35,000 a year, would save the organization $20,000 a year or more which could be applied to new programs or expanded services in existing programs.

Many veterans have objected to the move, saying most have become accustomed to the Pike Street location, which is spacious and easy to access. The courthouse annex space, they said, is cramped and difficult to get into for anyone who is disabled, despite the county’s purchase of parking space from the adjacent Chase Bank.

The offices would require renovation, including paint and replacement of door latches.

The VSC is funded by a portion of county property taxes, which this year would be capped at about $742,000. In at least the past two years the agency has not spent the maximum amount – its budget has to be approved by the county commissioners.

Executive director Robert Fitzgerald said Tuesday that the VSC submits its budget request in May after conferring with the county auditor to determine the allocation due from the 0.5 mills of property tax that indicates their maximum budgeting amount. The VSC then fills in line items, he said.

Personnel costs budgeted this year for office staff salaries, commissioners stipend, benefits, workers compensation insurance and mandated professional development came to about $350,000.

Allocations for direct services to veterans and associated operating costs, which include financial assistance to veterans in need, travel to medical and other appointments along with fleet expenses and vehicle replacement costs, outreach programs and Memorial Day and Veterans Day events, assistance with burial expenses for indigent veterans, flags and grave markers and other miscellaneous services, came to about $340,000.

The remainder is budgeted for operating expenses, including the Pike Street building lease and utilities.

Fitzgerald noted that the office has not spent its full allocation in some previous years but has to budget as if it will spend every line item in the budget. Unspent funds go back into the county general fund.

“If we can see other ways to help the veterans in the county, I would like to see that money spent on them rather than filling potholes,” he said.

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