SUBJECT:
Title
Update on the Reassignment Request of Lake County from Medical Examiner District 5 to District 24
Body
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Mounir Bouyounes, P.E., County Administrator |
Administration |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
At the May 14, 2025, Medical Examiner Advisory Committee meeting, Seminole and Lake County presented a plan to the Committee for consideration of the reassignment of Lake County from Medical Examiner District 5 to District 24. The plan provided two options for the committee to support the reassignment and make what they believe to be a successful transition. Both options have been approved by the Boards of County Commissioners for both Lake County (LAKE) and Seminole County (SEMINOLE).
Option One (1):
• LAKE and SEMINOLE operate as District 24 in the current location at 809 Pine Street, Leesburg, Florida 32748.
• District 5 builds a new building and transfers to the facility by the end of the term of the current operating agreement.
• District 5 fully supports the reassignment of LAKE to District 24 and writes a letter of support to the State’s Medical Examiner commission supporting this.
• All parties agree that if District 5 is working diligently in good faith to complete the construction of the new facility, and a delay should occur, the current operating agreement will be extended by all parties to mitigate the impact of this delay without changing any other terms in the agreement.
• LAKE and SEMINOLE agree to pay some reasonable portion of the cost incurred by Marion County (MARION) after a review of the documents requested by SEMIOLE in their March 31, 2025, letter to Marion.
Option Two (2):
• LAKE and SEMINOLE operate as District 24 in a new location within the newly formed District 24 boundary by the end of the term of the current operating agreement.
• District 5 operates in the current location at 809 Pine Street, Leesburg, Florida 32748.
• District 5 fully supports the reassignment of LAKE to District 24 and writes a letter of support other the State’s Medical Examiner commission supporting this.
• All parties agree that if District 24 is working diligently in good faith to complete the construction of the new facility, and a delay should occur, the current operating agreement will be extended by all parties to mitigate the impact of this delay without changing any other terms of this agreement.
Both LAKE and SEMINOLE believe that either of these options will provide for a fair and amicable transition that will not impact services to any constituents.
In addition to the options provided by Lake and Seminole County, Marion County staff has provided this board with the following options to consider:
Option One (1):
• Maintain both districts’ make up as is currently.
• Maximize the use of the existing site in Leesburg for both districts and plan on constructing a satellite facility in Summerfield to add capacity when needed.
• Reexamine the cost allocation methodology to address all concerns.
Option Two (2):
• District 24 (Seminole County) exits the partnership and operates its own facility at a location to be determined by the end of the current agreement.
• Lake County reconsiders its reassignment request and stays in District 5.
• District 5 reexamines the cost allocation methodology to address all concerns.
• District 5 reexamines its capacity needs in light of the new workload due to Seminole County leaving and develop a new plan using the existing building in Leesburg and build a satellite office in Summerfield when needed.
Option Three (3):
• Lake County reassigned to District 24 and together with Seminole County construct and operate a new facility at a location to be determine and relocate by the end of the current operating agreement.
• District 5 continues to operate in the current location in Leesburg.
• District 5 obtains clear title to the existing facility in Leesburg thru an arrangement with Lake County.
• District 5 reexamines existing capacity at the current building and plan accordingly based on the new workload due to Lake and Seminole leaving.
• District 5 will not object to the reassignment of Lake County as requested.
Option Four (4):
• Lake County reassigned to District 24 to join Seminole County.
• District 24 continues to operate in the current location in Leesburg.
• District 24 obtains a clear title to the existing facility thru an arrangement with District 5.
• District 5 will not object to the reassignment of Lake County as requested.
• District 5 reexamines its capacity plan and continues to operate in the current facility in Leesburg until state and local funds are secured to construct a new facility in Summerfield.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
To be determined based on final agreements between the districts.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Discussion and direction to Staff to bring back an option to the Medical Examiner Advisory Committee meeting on June 19, 2025.
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