BUILDING & PROPERTY COMMITTEE
29 APRIL 2025
Commissioner Tracy Wilburn, Chair of the Building Committee, opened the meeting asking Commissioner Roger Reedy to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe explained the purpose of the meeting is to get a Commission consensus on whether to enter into pre-negotiation to buy the Speedvette (Speed-V) property. Note: After lack of consensus on the Agri Park building costs, the Speed-V property was listed for sale and was included as a secondary consideration. The Building Committee minutes of 7 March 2025 were moved for approval by Commissioner Evan Baddour, seconded by Commissioner Caleb Savage, and were approved unanimously. The CE also mentioned upcoming committee meetings, i.e., 02 May 2025 School, Budget, and Legislative and 5 May 2025 Public Service committees – Airport Advisory Board, Emergency Services Committee and Law Enforcement Committee. Two handouts were provided, i.e., MEP, FP, Security and Technology Concepts/Giles County Courthouse, and Facility Evaluation Report on the Speed-V facility. The CE announced that former Medical Director Dr. Joe Fite sued Giles County alleging age-discrimination, and the suit has been accepted by the county’s insurance company and handed over to an attorney. CE further noted that Archives Director Barbara Nicolson will be retiring and all are invited to her retirement party. Upcoming Thursday will be National Day of Prayer. Per the prospective engineering proposed EMS facility has been revisited for cost reductions, and the county is still working with TM Partners on those reductions. However, tariffs are causing some uncertainties and when cost estimate are validated, the CE said he would let all commissioners know and schedule a committee meeting to review.
The Chair then moved to the feasibility report for the Speed-V property. The following issues were discussed in no particular order. Can the facility renovation cost estimate be reduced? For the Speed-V option Egress/Ingress at a well-used intersection could be a potential problem, with Director Willow Chavez noting that has been considered and she saw it as a situation often occurring in other cities/counties and EMS personnel are prepared for such egress/ingress. On asking the Director for her opinion she said the Speed-V is a feasible option due mainly to potentially reduced cost. As currently configured parking would be a problem but there is a potential solution with potential for partnering with adjacent churches, a contingency not yet thoroughly researched. Comparison cost between this location and the new building is close, so why go with a new option (Speed-V). With cost increasing each year for construction or upgrades the estimate for Speed-V to bring it up to required you might need to add another 15% to that estimate. Don’t abandon work already done. What upgrades would Speed-V need with the Director noting fire suppression, reconfiguration, electrical and some plumbing for example. The CE described some of the cuts to the proposed new building, i.e., roof redesigned, morgue reduced in size, requirement reduced for some proposed roof coverage. Where do calls support different locations with the Director saying from Ag Park or Speed-V location, response time generally about the same. Discussion on the use of satellite stations, especially in Minor Hill, to supplement the main location could reduce the main station needed space. On the issue of potentially renovating existing building, space constraints and discussion on EMS operations during lengthy construction. Question on water system at Speed-V location being able to support needed fire suppression system with the Director saying it can. Local building contractor evaluated current ambulance service location and said garage could be renovated by tearing down some of the bays for living quarters and adding four more bays. Speed-V estimate seems really high and would want to get an appraisal first before bringing back to this committee for any further action. Problem(s) mentioned with the Ag Park location, e.g., the large ditch sets a boundary and may preclude expansion. A comment on engineering reports – we don’t pay attention to them anyway so why do? CE responded to ensure whatever solution is pursued that it’s not based on guesswork. Never a perfect solution, but by adding future satellite stations a partial solution, and if could get the cost of Speed-V down, several commissioners said they would be interested in that option. After all the above discussions a straw vote was taken on all attendees (not just seven on Property Committee) to continue working on doing more homework on Speed-V and the vote showed 11 of 19 in favor. The CE said he would pursue an appraisal, discuss with the owner, and bring proposal back to committee. Considerable discussion on what could be done to the existing building with the CE saying much could be done, but doubtful that the doable upgrades would meet the mission requirement. CE explained that across several years, and two separate design teams working with two separate EMS Chiefs, their recommendations were consistent in stating that the mission requirements led to a needed 17K square foot facility. On the existing facility, discussion on what would cost and what would be required, e.g., hiring an architect, and with others noting the current building could be repurposed for other county needs, such as pressing Archives expansion. Motion made to call for the question was made by Commissioner Caleb Savage, seconded by Commissioner Evan Baddour, and was unanimously approved. A motion by Commissioner Brad Butler, seconded by Commissioner Evan Baddour, to not consider the current building anymore an an EMS option was made and was approved by Building Committee members 6 -1 with the Chair voting no.
Commissioner Carman Brown spoke to ensuring the public understood that the county is pursuing consideration of Speed-V – not making any decision on the available options at this time. Commissioner Terry Jones asked if this would now go to the full commission with the CE noting he would write a resolution on the issue. A motion to adjourn was made by the Chair, seconded by Commissioner James Lathrop, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES:
Building Committee Chair Tracy Wilburn, Tim Risner, Caleb Savage, Brad Butler, Evan Baddour, Joyce Woodard (for Erin Curry late arrival), and Carman Brown (for Judy Pruett absent)
Emergency Services Chair Caleb Savage, David Wamble, Carman Brown, Jim Lathrop, Annelle Guthrie, Brad Butler, Joseph Sutton
Other Commissioners in attendance Terry Jones, Roger Reedy, Shelly Goolsby, Gayle Jones, David Adams, Matthew Hopkins, Matt Rubelsky,