County staff outline new coroner facility plan, request $791,000 additional funds during budget process
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Summary
Staff updated council on a design‑build coroner facility at 1514 Pageland Highway, citing construction bids, a septic/sewer approach, capacity expansion from about 9 to 35 decedents, and an estimated $791,000 additional fund‑balance request to be brought during the normal budget process (ARPA funds cited).
Lancaster County staff presented an update on a new coroner facility planned for 1514 Pageland Highway and previewed an additional funding request to be made during the normal budget process.
Staff recounted the project's history: in March 2021 the council designated approximately $1.77 million for an expansion; after a May 2024 estimate to remodel the existing facility approached $3 million, staff recommended new construction. The design‑build RFP listed $3.2 million, bids were solicited in October 2024 and a contract with the Fern Creek Group was signed in December 2024. Work has progressed to the point where the site pad has been laid.
The coroner explained the new facility's capacity increase: "we will move from a capacity now of about 9 decedents to 35," explaining that the county frequently reaches capacity and must temporarily send decedents to Chester County or Chesterfield. Staff said the facility will be built to seek accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.
Sewer access was a challenge. Staff described a hybrid solution: install a septic system for immediate needs and a 4‑inch sanitary sewer stub to the street to allow future hookup. That approach added roughly $34,415 to the cost but avoided substantially more expensive alternatives that were estimated at up to $600,000.
Staff outlined incremental construction costs included in the additional funding estimate: approximately $34,415 for septic work; about $51,200 for additional doors; roughly $18,000 in materials to create a locker room; nearly $13,000 in changes to satisfy life‑safety plan requirements; and about $6,375 for HVAC exhaust for a double autopsy station, together totaling roughly $123,008.59 in additions, plus about $410,000 budgeted for furniture, fixtures and equipment. In June the projected additional need was about $1.4 million; staff now presented an additional fund‑balance request of approximately $791,000 to cover remaining escalation and contingency and said ARPA funds will be a primary source to draw down.
Council members asked for a clearer backing‑out of figures and confirmation of funding sources; staff said they will return with the formal funding request during the budget process. No formal appropriation was made at the meeting; the presentation was for information and follow‑up.
