Space-needs study flags overcrowded county offices; FEMA asks Ashland County to remove climate language from hazard plan

Ashland County staff told the Public Property and Law Enforcement Committee that a space-needs study has identified overcrowded offices across county facilities and that the county's hazard mitigation plan was returned by FEMA for edits.

Dan, a county staff member, said architects running the space needs study have toured county facilities and will present a full briefing at the full county board meeting. The study identified several cramped offices, with the district attorney's office singled out as "literally sitting on top of each other," and health-and-human-services staff lacking storage for distributed supplies such as child safety seats and COVID tests.

Dan said the zoning office is sited in a rear location that raises staff-safety concerns because the office is isolated from the main public circulation. He told committee members that the surveyor's office and child-support office likewise need more space.

Facilities staff reported current building maintenance needs: the courthouse elevator will be out of service for an estimated three weeks for upgrades and inspection, and a feed-water tank for the boiler will be replaced this week after a temporary patch held. David, the facilities representative, also noted ongoing roof concerns with missing asphalt tabs and several trees that appear hollowed and present a hazard.

Christina, the county's emergency-management director, said the county's hazard mitigation plan was submitted to FEMA but returned with a request to remove references to "global warming." "It since recently got sent back because, apparently, FEMA wants us to take out anything that has to do with, like, global warming," Christina said. She added Northwest Regional Planning is assisting in revising the plan to meet FEMA's comments.

Committee members discussed potential options for securing space, including possibly using properties Northland College has placed for sale, but a county staff member said the college's board will not engage in campus disposition discussions while classes continue. Committee members also noted deferred maintenance across some campus buildings and that any major renovation or purchase would depend on funding and legal review.

The committee did not approve any capital projects at the meeting; staff were directed to continue the space-needs process, to present the architects' findings to the full board at upcoming meetings, and to coordinate hazard-plan edits with Northwest Regional Planning.

Ending: Committee members agreed to take up the architects' presentation at the full board meeting and to return with cost estimates and recommended next steps rather than making immediate facility decisions at the committee level.