Commissioners discuss rumor of prosecutor's office move; parking and space questioned
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Summary
A commissioner reported a rumor that the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office might relocate to a recently purchased bank building and raised concerns about square footage and parking; officials said the idea originated as a request from the prosecutor and no decisions have been made.
A Sussex County commissioner raised a rumor at the Sept. 24 meeting that the county prosecutor’s office had expressed interest in relocating to a bank building recently purchased by the county. The commissioner said the building is about 5,700 square feet, with a proposed 2,000-square-foot addition discussed, and that current county records list the prosecutor's office occupying about 13,000 square feet.
The commissioner described parking constraints at the bank building property: 26 single spots, 10 double (tandem) spaces and one handicap space — a total of about 47 spots — and questioned how parking would accommodate 50–60 prosecutor's office employees. The speaker asked whether overflow parking would rely on the county parking garage or additional permits at the Cochran Building.
County leaders said the rumor stemmed from a request by the prosecutor and emphasized that nothing is in writing and no decisions have been made. Commissioners said they want to understand long-range county facility needs before making short-term moves.
Why it matters: relocating a county office for a large staff has implications for space planning, parking, and budget. Commissioners emphasized the need for a countywide facilities plan rather than ad hoc moves.
Next steps: commissioners requested further information about space, parking and the county’s multi-year facility plan before any proposal proceeds. No formal action was taken at the meeting.
