Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve agreement to build men's substance-abuse stabilization center; SMA Healthcare will fund cost increase
Summary
The board approved an agreement to construct a men's residential stabilization facility after the project's estimated cost rose from $10 million to $14 million. SMA Healthcare agreed to cover the increase; the county's obligation remains the original $10 million legislative appropriation.
FLAGLER COUNTY — The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 10 approved an agreement with SMA Healthcare to build, transfer and operate a men's residential substance-abuse stabilization facility funded initially by a $10 million legislative appropriation and supplemented by SMA Healthcare.
County staff told commissioners the original appropriation had been for a roughly 10,000-square-foot building at a $10 million budget. As the design work progressed, staff said the facility's program needs grew; the current design is roughly 23,000 square feet and the engineering estimate rose to about $14 million. County staff said SMA Healthcare agreed to fund the $4 million difference so the county's only obligation is the originally-appropriated $10 million.
"The original facility, it was a $10,000,000 facility, was going to be about 10,000 square feet," County staff said during the presentation.
Under the agreement approved by the board, the county will construct the building and then convey the property and finished facility to SMA Healthcare. SMA will operate and maintain the facility for public benefit; the contract includes a reversion clause in case SMA does not fulfill the operation provisions. The county noted prior, similar conveyances of county land to SMA in 1999 and 2007 for related women's residential and warm-program facilities.
County legal staff and SMA reviewed a redline (revised) agreement before the vote. Commissioners asked for clarification about the added terms and the conveyance language; county counsel said the redline refined payment, transfer and design provisions.
The motion to approve the agreement was made by Commissioner Hansen and seconded by Commissioner Pennington. The board voted by voice and the motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: The facility is intended to expand local residential substance-abuse services for men; the county retains its originally legislatively-appropriated obligation and SMA Healthcare will fund growth in the project's scope. Conveyance and reverter provisions were included to preserve public-interest protections.
What remains: The parties will finalize the redlined agreement and complete design and construction. SMA will be responsible for costs above the $10 million legislative appropriation up to the current $14 million estimate.
