County picks Meadowcrest to solve Westside space needs
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - 9:31pm
FROM LEFT: Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill, Property Appraiser Geoff Greene and Tax Collector Janice Warren speak about their space needs on Feb. 8 before the county commission.
Those constitutional officers, including the Property Appraiser, the Tax Collector and the Supervisor of Elections need more space than the current cramped quarters at the Westside government satellite offices in the Crystal Square Shopping Center affords, plus there are other problems at the Crystal River location, such as not enough bathrooms and the lack of storage space, breakrooms and conference rooms.
The Tax Collector’s office, which has been given responsibility for drivers license offices, is under a deadline because the state drivers license office in Crystal River closes at the end of February. With only very limited space to accommodate drivers license customers in the Inverness Tax Collector’s office, Tax Collector Janice Warren had termed the situation critical.
Commissioners weighed the advantages, disadvantages and costs of expanding in the shopping center. Relocating in the Crystal River Mall or building a new facility on county property was ruled out as too expensive. The Meadowcrest building gave the most space and was about the same overall cost as expansion at the shopping center.
After listening to all the pluses and minuses of every alternative, they opted for Meadowcrest, the largest, best space at what they felt was the best price overall – with the caveat that they can get a lease option with the first right of refusal to buy the building.
County officials said it would take about 12 months to make the transition, and the Gulf to Lakes Association Ldt, the owner of the Meadowcreast building, was willing to give at least eight months free with a 10-year lease, which would allow transition time so the county could do all the interior preparation work, plus give its current landlord the required year’s notice.
Until the transition, the Tax Collector will continue to utilize the current drivers license office on State Road 44 in Crystal River on the state’s assumable lease. County officials will report back to commissioners with the results of their lease negotiations at the Feb. 22 commission meeting.
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