By Gari Voss
OnPoint services, the former Community Mental Health, will be moving from the Allegan County Human Services campus on 122nd Avenue to their new home on Jenner Drive (M-40 South) in Allegan. The exodus will open approximately 22,000 square feet of office space that can be repurposed for other county services. The coming reality expands conversations that have been in the wind for a couple years. What services currently at the Allegan County Courthouse will fill this space at the Service Center on 122nd Ave.? What would this move look like?
County services that are currently housed in and around the Allegan County Courthouse expect to receive the call to move. With any change, there are concerns. Concerns voiced include how the move of employees away from the City of Allegan will affect their business economy and the fact that those living along the southern county border will have to drive further.
For County Administrator Robert Sarro, the greatest challenge revolves around “misinformation”. “Misinformation can make change more concerning than what the actual results will be,” reflected Sarro, who over time has been involved in other changes associated with county services.
The County Board of Commissioners is the ultimate decision-maker when determining location, space allocation and use of County buildings. Sarro pointed out that at this time, the Board has not made any decisions related to moves. OnPoint still occupies the space which will require some renovation before repurposing can occur.
“The County leadership is striving to increase service accessibility in a manner that is cost effective,” stated Sarro. “Even with office moves and space reutilization, service accessibility will remain convenient by providing residents options for how to access service.”
When examining the county services that currenting occupy the 122nd Avenue campus, many county support offices maintain a home base there. The Board of Commissioners, their commissions, the Office of the County Administrator, and other tasks central to county government such as the County Health Services have their hubs – finance, equalization, facilities management, public health department, department of senior and veteran management, human resources and central dispatch.
“The availability of existing space for county services and the need to utilize the Courthouse for judicial services are root factors to any possible relocation. The Clerk’s office as a Clerk of the Court is not moving based on the current status of plans. The offices to be moved are the Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Vital Records and Drain Commissioner,” explained Administrator Sarro.
Sarro continued, “These offices have been informed of the need for changes over the past several years and have been invited to participate in planning.”
Along with representatives of the county services targeted for a move, those involved in the conversation have been law enforcement and judicial services. The State of Michigan weighed in recognizing county needs related to the increased load in the court system.
“[The State] is likely to place an additional Circuit Court Judge in Allegan County (based on metrics, the County could qualify for additional judges). It has become imminent that the Courthouse be utilized to its fullest extent for judicial services. While our courts have been innovative in finding new ways for individuals to access justice, there often is not an alternative to the physical presence of jury trials and other processes,” reflected Sarro.
“However, we can perform general county functions in many different ways, such as additional technology. The availability of existing space for county services and the need to utilize the Courthouse for judicial services are root factors to the changes,” Sarro interjected.
Even acknowledging the basic facts regarding court needs, concerns have been expressed that the move of employees and services from the courthouse would affect the economy of the City of Allegan.
“The County has not seen any data to suggest that preliminary plans will be negative in any way to the City,” Sarro reflected.
Examining who is coming and going across the board found there may be an even exchange in employees. OnPoint includes about 125 employees. Some work on a regular office schedule while others will be in the field with intermittent meetings and appointments in house.
The work schedules and locations of the employees associated with the offices slotted for a possible move to 122nd Avenue seem to parallel this practice. Some will hold regular office hours for meeting with the public while others will be out in the field, such as the Drain Commissioner’s staff.
“Based on an independent 2019 study commissioned by the City’s Downtown Development Authority, the changes would be beneficial by limiting the expansion of non-tax generating government structure, and thus keeping space available for markets and residence that will benefit the City’s “trade area,” explained Sarro.
County Commission Chair Jim Storey was not able to respond at this time. Considering the changes that will occur in the Board with a reduction in commissioners from 7 to 5 members, the conversation regarding the relocating of any county services will remain an ongoing agenda item into 2023.
The County Services Campus located on 122nd Avenue has always been considered part of the Allegan County Seat. The change in location of any services could be a bit more physically beneficial for some townships/cities and a bit less beneficial for others. With the expanded utilization of technology for services, many Allegan County residents may not feel much difference.
At this time, residents worried about any change may wish to attend meetings of the County Board of Commissioners or contact the newly elected commissioners after the November 8th election.