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County looks at consolidating offices

Relocation could help offices that are quickly running out of space.

By WILL VAN SANT
Published January 18, 2006

CLEARWATER - Pinellas County's offices are scattered.

And that patchwork of government offices - some owned, some leased - leads to inefficiency, according to county administrators. They want to consolidate and find new homes for departments that are running out of space.

"We look like ... a gypsy village ... squatting all over the place," County Administrator Steve Spratt told commissioners Tuesday.

A consultant's report offers options to deal with the space crunch through 2020. Two approaches call for moving the bulk of county operations out of downtown Clearwater.

Departments could relocate to a new building on 40 acres at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport or the former Eckerd corporate headquarters on Bryan Dairy Road.

Under these and other scenarios discussed Tuesday, county commissioners and courts would stay in Clearwater, which would remain the county seat.

The two large-scale relocation approaches, which would allow the county to sell properties and leave leased buildings, are unlikely to be pursued aggressively in the near future, Spratt said.

The Eckerd building is under contract to another buyer. Building at the airport would cost an estimated $64.8-million. Also, the consultant noted that getting needed approvals to build at the airport could be politically difficult.

Spratt said Tuesday he will focus on studying other options that, while not as dramatic, still offer benefits.

One scenario calls for consolidating emergency management operations, law enforcement training and other public safety functions at an expanded facility at the Sheriff's Office on Ulmerton Road. That would cost about $37.9-million.

Facility management, road maintenance and other departments would be consolidated at the site of public works at 22211 U.S. 19. That would cost about $37.9-million.

The consultant and Spratt consider these building projects, and a handful of smaller ones, the minimum that will be needed in years to come. As an add-on, the consultant suggested construction of a county office building in what's now a parking lot at 509 East Ave. in Clearwater.

That would cost about $33.1-million.

Commissioners expressed skepticism about the report, which Commissioner Karen Seel called a wish list that had little to do with real needs.

Commissioner Ronnie Duncan, president of a commercial real estate firm, has taken part in a review of the county's space needs. He said none of the alternatives would be pursued immediately.

Will Van Sant can be reached at 445-4166 or vansant@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 18, 2006, 01:10:21]