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Sale of Walled Lake building to save county $135,000 a year

Oakland County brass has determined that services provided at the county’s West Oakland Office Building in Walled Lake can be provided in a more cost-effective and efficient manner at other locations throughout the county, so the Board of Commissioners is in the process of approving a purchase agreement with Agree Development to sell the building, which the county has owned since 1980.

The county would be paid $675,000 for the building if the board approves the purchase agreement and the Farmington Hills-based developer does typical due diligence investigating the 17,000-square-foot, single-story property that’s situated on 1.64 acres.

Net gains for the county in the first year are expected to be $310,000, and the deal is anticipated to save $135,000 per year after the first year.

County departments that currently have staff in the building, located a 1010 E. West Maple, include the Health Department, the Probation Department of the Probate Court, the Circuit Court Family Division, and the Information Technology communication hub.

Walled Lake City Manager L. Dennis Whitt said he’s heard that a McDonald’s restaurant will be coming into the location and it will be competing with Tim Hortons and Wendy’s in the area.

The increased tax base — governmental properties aren’t subject to property taxes — will be helpful to the community, which, like others across the state, has had to deal with budget difficulties during the prolonged economic decline.

“The downside would be that the people in Walled Lake, the residents that have utilized that facility, may have a longer drive or a longer walk,” Whitt said. “I understand that (building is) pretty useful.”

“Hopefully the Health Department and the other departments can continue to service the residents in the same area,” said Oakland County Commissioner Philip J. Weipert (R-Walled Lake, Wixom). “That’s the goal. Whether it’s partnering with the school district or drug store chains on immunizations, hopefully the residents of the area will still get the same services.”

Weipert said the county board’s Planning and Building Committee, the panel now considering the matter, is “still talking about it” and awaiting a presentation from Health Department Director George Miller.

3 Responses to Sale of Walled Lake building to save county $135,000 a year

  1. Multi Lakes resident

    March 24, 2011 at 7:01 am

    Walled Lake City Manager L. Dennis Whitt said he’s heard that a McDonald’s restaurant will be coming into the location and it will be competing with Tim Hortons and Wendy’s in the area.

    Really. A McDonald’s? Apparently the Spinal Column reporter missed the McDonald’s one block to the east. Not to mention the Burger King that’s just across the street.

  2. upset PTA member

    March 24, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    Residents of the area will NOT receive the same services without the Health Department. Schools providing health services to children? You got to be kidding! Have you been under a rock lately with the school budget (lack of? Schools have cut programs and teachers just to meet the budget and now you want to add health services? There are families in this area who depend upon this local health department to get their vaccines for their children; and others who receive supplemental food services for their infants (Women, Infants, and Children program). Sure selling the building will save money; but what will it cost the children and their families in the Walled Lake and surrounding areas?

  3. Upset resident

    March 26, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    Selling the West Oakland Health Department is truly a wrong move by the county. At this point in time when our residents can hardly afford the gas to go to work the county is asking us to drive farther for services for our health and our children. To save money and put a bigger fast food place in Walled Lake.This is counterintuitive to the Brooksie Way, To the Promotion of School Health, To the Promotion of Senior Health. We as a county should be promoting prevention and by having a local health department where a resident can get vaccines, check on a communicable disease they may have,get their water or radon checked, Get supplemental food for their new baby, talk to a nurse about their health needs just to mention a few things.Oakland County is a big County we need a west side clinic to take care of our needs.Please don’t close the West Clinic for MORE FAST FOOD!

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