courtesy Republican News
Aug. 21, 2008
The Garrett County commissioners announced yesterday that they have abandoned plans to construct a new $19.4 million public safety center on the current site of the Garrett County Roads Department along U.S. Rt. 219 in Oakland.
"This decision by the Board of County Commissioners was finalized after serious thought and deliberation," said chairman Denny Glotfelty. "The board had to look at the long-term financial outlook of Garrett County government in conjunction with unknown state cutbacks. Operating the county within affordability limits for our citizens, while improving the quality of all public services, will remain our number one priority."
The proposed public safety center had previously been planned as the site to locate a new detention center and administrative offices for the sheriff's office.
Planning is under way to evaluate possible renovations of the county's current detention center and public safety/emergency management offices.
Glotfelty noted that the population of inmates at the jail has not increased according to projection figures from a few years ago.
“We believe that there is sufficient space in the current location to adequately address the detention center needs,” he said, adding that some of the underground parking area could be utilized.
Appraisals on the current roads department site have been prepared, and the course of action to sell the property will be undertaken, according to county administrator Monty Pagenhardt. The property is currently appraised at $3.7 million.
“That number will likely increase,” Glotfelty said, “because of the commercial development that is under way right now along Rt. 219 in Oakland. With the Lowe’s under construction now, and several other projects anticipated, the county roads property can only increase in value.”
The commissioners have also deferred final approval of the bid award for the Community Athletic and Recreation Center so that additional state and private funding can be explored. A final decision on this facility, which has been determined by the board to be a priority within projected financial affordability, will be made after the request for additional funding from the state has been reviewed and definitive funding has been approved, Pagenhardt said.
The commissioners met this week with Senator George Edwards and Garrett College officials to discuss the rec center project, which is to be built on the McHenry campus.
Pagenhardt added that the commissioners asked Senator Edwards to pursue potential additional funding for such a project when the 2009 General Assembly begins in January.
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