Montgomery County commissioners raised questions about county staff activity at a downtown building the commission is considering leasing at 150 Dexter Avenue, with at least one commissioner saying staff time should not be used to modify a facility before a lease is approved.

The concern surfaced during the commission's information session when a commissioner said, “I'm talking about using the county employees' time and whatever materials we may have used over there, to retrofit or whatever, we've done over there,” and asked what legal authority allowed staff to work on the site before a signed contract.

Kendall (county staff) said the owner had granted staff access so county personnel could “evaluate the facility and determine the start looking at what's the best way to to bring that building online to our network,” and that the IT team determined wireless service could meet the county's needs. A county staff member identified as Mister Anderson told commissioners his team “went over and made a determination that we'd be able to do it wirelessly” and that they only re‑terminated existing cabling rather than running new cable.

Support services staff clarified the county had performed inspections of heating, air and plumbing and that those checks were performed with the owner's permission. “We just did, like Doug said, just a basic make sure everything is okay before we lease it,” the staff member said. He said no county materials were used and that the work did not involve expenditures beyond staff time.

Commissioners pressed for a clear rule going forward. One commissioner said staff can inspect, but “in the future, I think we need to avoid spending any money or using employees in a building that we don't have any legal agreement on.” Chairman Chen did not make a final determination during the information session; the lease remained on the formal agenda later in the meeting.

Commissioners also discussed the proposed rent. A commissioner who visited the building said the asking rate was $9 per square foot and offered market comparisons — ranging from $13 to $21 per square foot for other Montgomery County office space — and called the $9 rate “a very fair price.” County staff said the building had been recently remodeled and that most equipment and infrastructure checked out during inspections.

The commission discussed use of downstairs space by the newly elected congressman. County staff said the congressman would have reception space, two offices and access to a conference room, and that the county expected that arrangement to be for about one year while the commission pursues a longer‑term location within the county complex.

Why it matters: commissioners must weigh the value of conducting site inspections ahead of formal lease approval against the risk of appearing to commit county resources to a private lease without a signed agreement. The discussion did not include a recorded vote on the lease during the information session; staff said inspections were intended to speed any eventual move if the commission approves the lease.

The commission moved to the formal agenda after the discussion; questions about the extent of prior work and the county's responsibility for maintenance and utilities remained part of the record.