The Proposed New County Building

[moose]

There was an article in the Gettysburg Times regarding the new proposed county building. The committee recommended building a new building out next to the existing detention center on land the county already owns. I'm going on record as saying 'I AGREE' with this decision! Mark your calendars ladies and gentlemen! All one needs to do is study one of the past years' budget(s) and you could see that we spend entirely too much money on rent and are at the mercy of the landlords! I'm not that familiar with the existing site that was first proposed nor do I know first hand what condition the St. Francis building(s) are in. But the site next to the detention center makes sense, no demolition needed and maybe can share some parking...? Don't let on to anyone that they might actually pave over some grass....shh!

I do have a few questions, though. We bought the St. Francis site for future expansion due to its proximity to existing services. I am somewhat curious as to when that might be? And, regarding the new building...now that we selected a new site, do we actually need the parking under the new building as was initially proposed for the other site? Will that be scratched from the new plans now? I just don't think it's a good idea to be vulnerable under the belly of the new building, especially when you have sufficient room to spread out at the new site.

Click here to access the Times article regarding the new building.

[Venter]

While I Agree that the Building out there will be a better solution for Many, I have some Reservations...

• The New Building will house the Adams County Children and Youth Services, Dept of Domestic Relations, and Dept of Probation Services.
  I would like to know the Number of People serviced by these groups, and how many Reside in the Borough Itself.
  Will these Affected People have Necessary Transportation Provided to get to & from the Facilities?
  These are Families already in a weakened state, with limited resources - and there is no Cab Service, or Bus Service.
  So, will there be an Expense Involved in getting them out there, or will many of them just give up seeking support?
  
• Several Members of the Committee met for a total of 8 Hours - and were able to make this Decision?
  THAT IS Amazing to me, especially after seeing who was on the Committee!
  
• They mention that one of their Main Concerns IS the Distance from the Borough, but that could be addressed through "Paperless Filing"!?
  Right... Paperless Filing should be a Great Means of Access for All of Those People Who will be in need of those services :/
  I'm sure they all have internet access, can read and comprehend well enough to fill out all of the necessary bullshit on those forms!
  Isn't that why they need the Services - for ASSISTANCE With Difficult Issues in their lives?
• If needed, their Attorneys will be in their offices... downtown.
  Come to think of it, this MAY become a new Mecca for Law Offices in Adams County.
  Where the Courts Go, the Lawyers Follow.
  

But, other than that, I guess it's Fine!

[lifesaver]

Mar 23, 2014 10:33:25 GMT -5 Venter said:

While I Agree that the Building out there will be a better solution for Many, I have some Reservations...

• The New Building will house the Adams County Children and Youth Services, Dept of Domestic Relations, and Dept of Probation Services.
  I would like to know the Number of People serviced by these groups, and how many Reside in the Borough Itself.
  Will these Affected People have Necessary Transportation Provided to get to & from the Facilities?
  These are Families already in a weakened state, with limited resources - and there is no Cab Service, or Bus Service.
  So, will there be an Expense Involved in getting them out there, or will many of them just give up seeking support?
  
• Several Members of the Committee met for a total of 8 Hours - and were able to make this Decision?
  THAT IS Amazing to me, especially after seeing who was on the Committee!
  
• They mention that one of their Main Concerns IS the Distance from the Borough, but that could be addressed through "Paperless Filing"!?
  Right... Paperless Filing should be a Great Means of Access for All of Those People Who will be in need of those services :/
  I'm sure they all have internet access, can read and comprehend well enough to fill out all of the necessary bullshit on those forms!
  Isn't that why they need the Services - for ASSISTANCE With Difficult Issues in their lives?
• If needed, their Attorneys will be in their offices... downtown.
  Come to think of it, this MAY become a new Mecca for Law Offices in Adams County.
  Where the Courts Go, the Lawyers Follow.
  

But, other than that, I guess it's Fine!

I was told a few years ago by someone in the Domestic Relations department in Adams County that 75% of those that pay child support in Adams County are behind on their payments or deadbeat parents. 75%!!!  I think the Domestic Relations Department does a great job trying to keep on top of everything considering their huge caseload.  And considering that the department services the whole county  I don't think the location would make much difference to those needing service.  The problem isn't in applying for the services, it's actually getting the support for your children that they deserve.

[paulkellett]

Again, I have to disagree. The county should buy the current two buildings, they are assessed at about $4 million and as they assure us that is 18% above market value. This idea saves taxpayers $4.3 million, doesn't make another building sit empty in Gettysburg, saves the cost of moving, an expense that is significant if you look at how disruptive it is to the employees work performance. I know the buildings are not as nice as the new one would be, but at this point, I am looking for anything that would save tax dollars.

[moose]

Mar 25, 2014 6:56:18 GMT -5 paulkellett said:

Again, I have to disagree. The county should buy the current two buildings, they are assessed at about $4 million and as they assure us that is 18% above market value. This idea saves taxpayers $4.3 million, doesn't make another building sit empty in Gettysburg, saves the cost of moving, an expense that is significant if you look at how disruptive it is to the employees work performance. I know the buildings are not as nice as the new one would be, but at this point, I am looking for anything that would save tax dollars.

I could easily be persuaded to agree with you, Paul. It's just that I'm not that familiar with the layout/condition of the current buildings and whether they could serve our purpose for decades to come. The advisory board came to their decision rather quickly. I'm guessing they could've taken the easy way out by starting with a blank canvas. The new location is not the best to serve those who will need those services, but in the grand scheme of things the new location looks best to me. I'd have to be privy to all the details to decide otherwise.

[lifesaver]

I think that one thing to consider would be the cost to rehab those buildings to accommodate the offices to be housed in those buildings.  If the rehab costs offsets the tax savings it really isn't a savings. 

[philliesfan]

While there won't be a huge financial impact, there will be a noticeable one for the local eateries that cater to the employee's and patrons of the 3 offices involved in the projected move, i.e. Cafe' Saint-Amand, Mom's Coffeepot, Ping's Cafe, just to mention a few. But on the other side of the coin, opening a "Mom & Pop" style eatery somewhere in the vicinity of the Prison, Emergency Center and the new building and be open for maybe breakfast & lunch could prove to be a good investment?

[lifesaver]

Apr 2, 2014 8:52:17 GMT -5 philliesfan said:

While there won't be a huge financial impact, there will be a noticeable one for the local eateries that cater to the employee's and patrons of the 3 offices involved in the projected move, i.e. Cafe' Saint-Amand, Mom's Coffeepot, Ping's Cafe, just to mention a few. But on the other side of the coin, opening a "Mom & Pop" style eatery somewhere in the vicinity of the Prison, Emergency Center and the new building and be open for maybe breakfast & lunch could prove to be a good investment?

I know some of the local eateries, even it they don't offer delivery per se, will deliver large orders to the hospital.  And the new location isn't that far out of town for someone to make a food run if need be.  But yes, it may impact some of the foot traffic because of the new location.