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Three cities plan warming center on county land; delegation to review details Oct. 14
Summary
Committee members heard a proposal to build a 10,000-square-foot warming center on county property behind the jail, paid for by three cities and leased from the county; details and a contract package will be presented to the full delegation on Oct. 14.
Representatives from the Strafford County Legislative Delegation discussed a proposal Sept. 30 from three municipalities to construct a 10,000-square-foot warming center on county-owned land behind the county jail.
Representative Kazinski asked whether the delegation had responsibility or prior notice; the chair replied the project is in the packet for the Oct. 14 delegation meeting and that mayors and city managers have worked out a financing plan in which the three cities would pay construction and operating costs. The plan under discussion would remove the old humane-society building behind the jail and lease county land to the municipalities for a nominal fee (the county would charge $1 per year under the current concept) while the cities would maintain ownership and fund operations.
The chair said the municipalities have agreed to share costs and that the county commissioners would administer the operation under a contract. "Three cities are willing to pay for it," the chair said, adding that the cities would decide whether to keep ownership and that any proceeds from the planned sale of an existing municipal building would offset construction costs.
Officials described the site choice as pragmatic: mayors and city managers, the chair said, had exhausted other locations and faced community resistance for siting warming facilities within individual municipalities. The plan’s backers argued a single, centrally located facility would be less costly than putting people in motels across multiple towns during winter weather, while opponents cautioned about locating a facility on county green space.
The chair said the delegation will receive a packet with concept plans and contract language ahead of the Oct. 14 meeting and that further municipal approvals will be required before construction begins. Committee members asked for clarity on long-term lease terms and protections in the contract should the county or cities change plans; the chair said pro rata reimbursement language and lease terms would be considered during negotiations.
What’s next The warming-center proposal will be included in the Oct. 14 delegation packet; the committee will review the contract and financing details at that meeting and municipalities will seek city-council approvals where required.
