Agenda Item Name:
Title
Use of General Fund Reserves for Due Diligence regarding purchase of Fellowship Baptist Church in High Springs
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Presenter:
Tommy Crosby 352-337-6205; Ramon Gavarrete 352-548-1214
Description:
Approve the budget amendment and use of General Fund Reserves for the due diligence activities related to the purchase of the Fellowship Baptist Church in High Springs.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the use of General Fund Reserves and corresponding budget amendment for the Due Diligence portion of estimated costs associated with the purchase of the Fellowship Baptist Church in High Springs.
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Prior Board Motions:
3/2/21 Board Meeting - item 21-0187 was discussed.
Discussion of purchase of Fellowship Baptist Church in High Springs 21-0187 Fiscal Consideration: Asking price for the church and surrounding 9 acres: $3,300,000
ESTIMATES of the cost of acquisition will include:
Two appraisals $20,000
Building condition due diligence report $33,000
Phase I Environmental Audit $3,000
Survey and other Public Works Charges $10,000
Estimated (will invoice actual expenses)
Title insurance premium and search fee $11,000
Attorney’s fees $5,000
Recording costs $100
Post-closing costs will include upgrading and conversion of structures to the County’s intended uses, ongoing maintenance and operation of the property and facilities.
Funding sources could include the General Fund, Solid Waste and Wild Spaces & Public Places, depending on the final uses determined for the site.
Recommended Action: Direct staff on whether to proceed with the investigation of, and possible option contract for the Fellowship Baptist Church as a potential location for County offices and facilities.
Deputy County Manager Harriot and Community Support Services Director Claudia Tuck presented the above item.
Public Works Director Ramon Gavarrete, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby, Commissioner Chestnut, Claudia Tuck, Former Commissioner Levin, Chair Cornell, Commissioner Alford, and Commissioner Wheeler presented comments.
Commissioner Wheeler moved to authorize staff to proceed with the 90 day option contract for the Fellowship Baptist Church as a potential location for County/City/Community offices and facilities. Engage the elected city officials of Alachua, High Springs, and Newberry/City Managers on what level of involvement they would have in the endeavor.
Commissioner Alford presented comments.
Joy Glanzer, Anthony Johnson, Mary Lou Hildreth, and Mona Gil de Gibaja presented comments.
The motion carried 5-0.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
$104,100 from General Fund Reserves.
The County’s budget will be amended at such time as the Board of County Commissioners authorizes the use of contingency reserves (F.S. 129.06(2)(b)). All requests for the use of any reserve for contingency as referenced in 7.B. shall be accompanied by information prepared by the Office of Management and Budget showing the year-to-date activity of the reserve account as well as the current account balance and the net effect on the account balance.
Additionally, the Board will evaluate all reserve request based on the Board adopted budget policy as outlined:
7. Budgeted Reserve for Contingency
A. Reserve for contingency requests in the General Fund, MSTU Law Enforcement and MSBU Fire Funds must be approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The Board will use the procedures and evaluation criteria set forth in this, and other policies. Such requests will be evaluated as to the:
I. Urgency of the request
II. Scope of services to be provided
III. Short and long-term fiscal impact of the request
IV. Potential for alternative methods of funding or providing the service(s)
V. Review for duplication of service(s) with other agencies
VI. Review of efforts to secure non-County funding
VII. Discussion of why funding was not sought during the normal budget cycle
VIII. Review of the impact of not funding or delaying funding to the next fiscal year.
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Background:
The Fellowship Baptist Church is located at 16916 NW US Highway 441, High Springs, FL 32643, within the High Springs city limits. It consists of approximately 35,000 square feet of improved space on 20.38 acres, of which approximately 9 acres will be conveyed with the church structures. The exact description of the 9 acres to be conveyed with the church is not yet available.
Updated Fiscal Information Regarding Estimated Costs:
Asking price for the church and surrounding 9 acres: $3,300,000
ESTIMATES of the cost of acquisition will include:
1) Due Diligence Report $30,000.00 Includes Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Structural, Civil/Site, Phase 1 Environmental, and a slab investigation (to assess presence of a storage tank.)
2) Asbestos / Lead / Mold Survey $18,000.00
3) Appraisals (2) $30,000.00 Preliminary quote is approximately $14,000 for the 1st Appraisal.
4) Survey and other Public Works Charges $10,000.00
a. Estimated (will invoice actual expenses)
5) Title Insurance Premium and Search $11,000.00
6) Attorney’s Fees $5,000.00
7) Recording Costs $100.00
Sub-Total: $ 104,100.00
Asking Price $ 3,300,000.00
Total: $ 3,404,100.00
Post-closing costs will include upgrading and conversion of structures to the County’s intended uses, ongoing maintenance and operation of the property and facilities.