SUBJECT:
Title
Update on Discussions of Lake County Exploring Potential Alignment with Seminole County in Medical Examiner District 24 as pertains to the new Medical Examiners Building.
Body
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
In 2018, Seminole County (District 24) requested to join District 5 for Medical Examiner services. Later that year, the District 5 Medical Examiner Advisory Committee agreed to allow Seminole County to join District 5, with Seminole County covering the first-year costs of $1,513,558. This amount included an annual facility expansion offset charge of $34,920 to offset any upcoming additional costs to the District 5 counties resulting from the acceleration of the timeline to commence the expansion of the Leesburg facility.
Since early 2020, and at the request of the Medical Examiner and the Advisory Committee, Marion County has been working toward establishing a new facility. This process involved collaborating with architects on conceptual designs and site plans, selecting land parcels for the facility’s location, and conducting an extensive RFP process to choose a construction manager. The Medical Examiner Advisory Committee for Districts 5 and 24 have been kept informed and have unanimously approved each step of the process.
At the Medical Examiner Advisory Committee meeting on November 13, 2024, the Lake County representative expressed the County’s intent to withdraw from District 5 and join District 24. Seminole County has indicated its willingness to proceed with this change. This development significantly impacts the planned efforts for a new Medical Examiner facility for District 5, which have been placed on hold pending further direction.
Considering the events at the November 13th meeting, we have reviewed ways to recover the costs expended by Marion County for District 24’s inclusion. These costs include the design of the proposed new facility, property appraisals, land purchases, and future obligations, totaling $3,140,152. In the existing Interlocal Agreement between the counties in Districts 5 and 24, each county contributes a percentage based on its population. We have used this same methodology to develop a cost recovery plan.
Marion County will begin efforts to recover the $110,347.53 incurred in costs associated with the new Medical Examiner building, with plans to hold the property in question as well as $69,010.00 in construction manager fees. These funds and assets will remain under Marion County control until the Medical Examiner Advisory Committee provides further direction on how to proceed. An update on the recovery process will be discussed, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial matters.
During the February 4th Medical Examiner Commission meeting, representatives from both District 5 and District 24 were present as Seminole and Lake counties presented their request for Lake County to separate from District 5 and join District 24. The proposal was met with opposition from representatives of District 5, including its administrative coordinator, who outlined concerns regarding the impact of such a shift. After considering the arguments, the Commission ultimately denied the request without prejudice, leaving the door open for future discussions on the matter.
Moving forward, an open discussion will be held to determine the best course of action in response to the Commission’s decision. This will include evaluating potential next steps, addressing any lingering concerns, and exploring strategies to ensure continued collaboration and efficiency within District 5 and 24. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to share input and discuss any necessary adjustments.
Chart below illustrates the recovery of incurred cost based on population
|
Recovery of Incurred Cost |
|
|
MEC00001 without Land |
|
Design |
$ 107,372.53 |
|
Land Purchase |
|
|
Property Appraisal |
$ 2,975.00 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
Total Cost |
$ 110,347.53 |
|
|
|
|
Citrus |
$ 9,796.98 |
|
Hernando |
$ 12,334.70 |
|
Lake |
$ 25,044.93 |
|
Marion |
$ 24,393.79 |
|
Sumter |
$ 9,378.99 |
|
Seminole |
$ 29,398.14 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
$ 110,347.53 |
end