MONROE, N.C. — A Union County plan to buy land to construct a new human services building might not be its least expensive option, according to the county's landlord.
John Lombard, owner of the Lombard Group based in Waterbury, Conn., owns Union Village, the shopping center Union County rents space for its heath and social services departments.
Lombard said he was surprised to learn the county commissioners called a closed session Monday to discuss acquiring about 20 acres of land owned by Monroe Crossings Mall. He has offered to expand or rebuild space the county rents to suit its needs, he said. But no one from Union County has responded to his offers, Lombard said.
Within the last year, Lombard said he contacted county staff asking if they wanted to reduce the amount of space they rented. County staff said they were looking to expand the space for the heath and social services departments. He then offered to sell the space to the county at the price he paid for it in 2005.
"They never came back to me with a yes or no," Lombard said.
Lombard said he made similar offers in the past, including renovation or rebuilding to suit the county's needs, with no response.
Union County has a high amount of debt per capita compared to other counties in the state. In several budget workshops this year, County Manager Cindy Coto proposed ways the county can construct two buildings it needs - an expanded jail and a new home for its human services departments - without adding to its debt. Last month, commissioners passed a resolution asking legislative delegates to find alternative ways to fund construction.
When Lombard read a recent Enquirer-Journal story about the commissioners' closed session meeting published earlier this week, he said he sent emails to all the commissioners. He explained his earlier proposals and the county's silence, he said.
"I got one response back from Jerry Simpson. It just said, 'I saw your proposal,'" Lombard said.
A call to Simpson was not returned by press time Friday.
The county has taken no action toward buying the 20 acres, nor can county staff comment about topics discussed in closed session. A message requesting to interview a county official about Lombard's claims Thursday was not returned.
Commissioners were informed that the county and Lombard disagreed over building improvements in the past, Commissioner Tracy Kuehler said, but no proposal for new or renovated space was brought to the board by county staff. Lombard's email this week was the first she heard of the proposals he said he made.
"If there are alternatives, especially alternatives that can save taxpayer money, I think we should look at every option," Kuehler said.