The Shadow
FINCASTLE — Botetourt County will move many of its administrative offices to the Greenfield Education and Training Center in Daleville.
Offices will be relocated in phases, beginning in May.
Most administrative offices are currently located in numerous buildings in the town of Fincastle.
Many of the county’s office buildings have reached their functional lifespan, requiring extensive remodeling and reconstruction. The builds cannot accommodate modern operations and many of them are only partially handicapped accessible.
In particular, the circuit courthouse building is in need of renovations to address a variety of structural, environmental, accessibility and security issues.
A 2018 professional engineering assessment of the building found it has reached the end of its useful life.
All of the building’s mechanical systems need to be replaced. Handicapped accessibility is limited and security features are inadequate. Moisture is a problem due to water leaking through the foundation and from roofs. Mechanical systems cannot properly condition air and humidity.
County facilities and administrative staff have been evaluating office space alternatives, including the feasibility of renting more buildings in Fincastle.
The option of constructing more office space within the town has been evaluated , along with leasing or purchasing office space in other areas of the county. The county has also explored building new office space elsewhere in the county.
Using the Greenfield Education and Training Center was identified as an option since the building will become available at the conclusion of a 20-year lease to the Virginia Community College System at the end of May 2020.
The 40,000 square-foot facility was designed for use as a regional higher education and workforce training center operated and managed by Virginia Western Community College.
The college has largely vacated the building except for workforce training programs held primarily in the building’s heavy equipment lab space.
As a result of talks between college and county officials, the parties have agreed to negotiate a new lease after May 2020 under which Virginia Western will continue to occupy and use part of the center for regional workforce training programming while the county will occupy and use most of the center to house its administrative offices and operations.
“Based on current plans, about 50 employees will relocate from the town of Fincastle to Greenfield in phases starting as early as May,” said County Administrator Gary Larrowe.
He added that about 180 employees will remain in Fincastle and the town will remain the county seat.
“Facility concerns create the urgency to relocate some county offices,” said Fincastle District Supervisor Dr. Richard Bailey. “This is an opportunity to renew our work spaces, consolidate county offices, and improve public access while minimizing cost.”
Among offices that will remain in town are the courts, sheriff’s offices, commonwealth’s attorney, voter registration, clerk of the court, and fire-EMS.
Relocating offices to Greenfield Center avoids the need to purchase or construct office space. Greenfield is owned by the county’s economic development authority. Its members have expressed support for the shared county-Virginia Western use of the building.
