Johnson County supervisors signaled support Thursday to move forward with asbestos abatement at Chatham Oaks and asked county staff and facility leaders for a timeline on relocating residents and decommissioning the building. The board asked that a proposed contract be placed on the formal agenda next Thursday so work can proceed.

The action follows a facilities review and a request from Chatham Oaks staff for help paying specifically for asbestos removal in the facility’s dining room and kitchen area. "This is a step that's gonna have to happen no matter what happens," Dave Curtis, facilities director, told the board while describing the abatement proposal.

Chatham Oaks is a long‑running residential facility the board still owns under a lease. County staff described the building as aging: a county facilities audit from 2022 showed several county buildings scored above the facility-condition threshold suggesting demolition rather than renovation. County staff estimated a full renovation could cost in the range of $5 million to $7 million. Supervisors said they were not prepared to fund that level of renovation and emphasized the county should support an orderly transition while the operator pursues other sites.

Diane, representing the facility and system-of-care partners, told supervisors the beds are "a critical piece" of the local continuum of care and said staff are actively looking for alternative locations. "We have a huge crisis in terms of number of beds right now," she said, urging the board to help keep services running while the search continues.

Board members confirmed the county has reserved an annual contingency fund for unplanned facilities work. Supervisors said about $300,000 is set aside in the “supervisor’s physical plant projects” fund for emergent building needs; staff said the balance is available and this would be the first draw from this year’s set‑aside. The county also discussed repairing a roof — staff estimated roughly $90,000 — as a related near‑term fix that could reduce further interior damage while relocation is pursued.

Supervisors and facility representatives discussed options explored to relocate the program, including whether nearby Melrose Ridge or other repurposing opportunities were viable. Staff said tax-credit restrictions and outstanding loans tied to some buildings complicated potential transfers.

Rather than adopt a final plan Thursday, the board requested periodic touchpoints. Supervisors asked Chatham Oaks leadership and county staff to return with an update in six months, with the option for a written update at three months if there is substantive progress. The board also instructed staff to place the asbestos‑abatement proposal (listed in the packet under a contractor name) on the formal agenda for next Thursday for formal approval.

The conversation emphasized two separate decisions: the narrower question of whether to approve asbestos abatement now and a broader governance choice about whether the county should consider future ownership or bonding for a replacement facility. Supervisors did not adopt a bond or other financing plan Thursday and made no final decision about the site’s long-term disposition.

Officials said they will continue coordinating with the facility operator and other local partners and return with updates to the board.