Kent County facilities managers outline rising capital needs, Fuller Clinic reopening planned for November

Tim, a representative of Kent County Facilities Management, presented the department’s annual operations and capital update to the Kent County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 16.

He told commissioners the department manages about 1.5 million square feet of county property with an annual operations budget of roughly $15,000,000 and that capital improvement spending has risen from about $4,000,000 in 2020 to nearly $10,000,000 in recent years. “We probably got a pretty big spike coming in the near future pending some additional approvals,” he said.

The presentation listed projects underway or planned. Fuller Clinic is a $4.5 million renovation expected to re‑occupy in early November after drywall, doors and a first coat of paint were completed. The department managed a phased animal shelter renovation that required temporary relocation of roughly 45 dogs and about 30 cats. A South Clinic renovation finished in spring; some flooring remains to be replaced. Follisburg Dam work completed a sheet‑piling phase this year; design is under way to strengthen the spillway and gates next year with an expected additional $2,000,000 on a $4,000,000 total project. The department said it is continuing design for a new Fuller Campus administration building and planning demolition of the hospital site at 1101 Ball to create space for that project.

Tim also highlighted lease and office moves: the county leased the seventh floor at 250 Monroe to house the public defender’s office, with occupancy anticipated in October. The department said it is studying options for a medical examiner facility and will bring proposals to the board in the next month or two.

Commissioners asked about oversight or county input on independent authorities and other public entities that lease or partner with the county. Tim and Al (from the Administrator’s Office) said those organizations operate under separate legal structures, but facilities performs plan reviews for projects on county‑leased property. “It’s the zoo operating agreement that provides a requirement that, for when an improvement at the zoo needs to be approved by the county, I’m the one that approves that per the agreement,” Al said, adding facilities performs engineering and plan‑review work before formal sign‑off.

On budgeting and capital planning, commissioners pressed the department on how it weighs proactive maintenance vs. reactive replacement. Tim described an asset‑management approach: assets have expected lifecycles and the county tracks useful life to decide whether to maintain, extend life with good maintenance, or replace items that have reached the end of their service life.

Commissioners also asked about electrification of the county fleet and EV charging. Tim said facilities’ fleet is small and that sheriff and other larger fleets would lead policy decisions; facilities received a $10,000 grant from a utility to install the county’s first car charger at the 601 auto lot.

The department said it received a grant to complete an energy efficiency study across county buildings and that eight buildings are already in the Energy Star portfolio; the audit will help set baseline energy goals and inform a five‑year capital improvement plan.

Tim noted parking agreements the county must revisit, including an Ellis Deck arrangement that provides about 115 spaces for courthouse parking and expires Sept. 30, 2026.

In closing, Tim asked commissioners for input on priorities and said the facilities team will continue to present capital needs as projects move through design and budgeting.

Looking ahead, the department said it will bring the medical examiner site options to the board for consideration, continue Fuller Campus administration building design, and finalize the energy‑efficiency audit to guide future capital priorities.