JUDGE’S COMMENTS
Last December we began talking about moving the county offices from downtown Cameron to the former Cameron Little River Hospital property.
The banks of the county control the 34,000-square-foot hospital building and the 10,000-square-foot former convent building.
The county offices about 65 employees in 10 separate buildings in downtown Cameron. From the beginning the move from downtown has made sense for several reasons.
• The county needs better office space. The buildings we now occupy are in need of approximately $1 million in repairs, including new roofs, floors, windows, etc.
For example, Bea’s Kitchen, which feeds our seniors, is housed in an old building that needs in excess of $238,000 of repairs.
We must make these repairs soon or find another place to house this needed and important service. The hospital building has a very nice kitchen and dining room, a new roof and new chillers and the convent is structurally sound.
• Cost savings. We will have to remodel the interior of the hospital and the convent to make office space. However, we can do this at approximately one-third the cost of new construction, which is estimated at approximately $250 per square foot.
Additionally, there are significant cost savings from consolidation of utilities, phones, IT and even lighting.
Because we occupy 10 separate buildings there is no centralized method of heating, cooling, IT, phones or lighting.
We will set up the heating, cooling and lights to come on and off at the desired time and temperature, which will result in substantial utility savings.
There will be additional savings on phones and IT as both will be centralized for the first time. Even the toilets will be set to reduce water usage.
• Consolidation of services. We will change the phone system, so there is one number for Milam County services. The phone will be answered by a person(s) who will sit at the front desk and the call will then be directed to the proper county employee.
Today, we have phone numbers for each office and each office has a separate employee dedicated to answering the phone.
This will eliminate frustration of the caller who is unsure who to contact and will eliminate a duplication of personnel. Further, we will provide one stop shopping for county services and eliminate the aggravation of looking for the right office.
• Economic development. At present downtown Cameron is virtually dead. Most of downtown is vacant or occupied by county offices. Downtown Cameron has little chance of needed revitalization if the county does not move.
The banks plan to sell the county buildings it receives in the trade and the new buyers get a huge tax incentive of 45% to fix up the old building(s) for new business. If the county stays downtown, nothing changes.
• No new taxes. We can pay for the remodel of the hospital and convent without any new county taxes. The plan is to borrow the needed remodel money on a seven year note and pay it off without new taxes.
Thus, the move makes sense. If we don’t move, we miss a great opportunity to obtain a better place to work, serve the public, save money and help with economic development.
If we don’t move, the banks will tear down the buildings to prevent an eyesore and additional losses from taxes and upkeep.
If the buildings are torn down the county will lose $12,000. In tax revenue. If the county moves, we gain about the same tax revenue from the buildings we swap.
Thus, it all really does make sense and we ask for your support for this needed change.
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