Childcare Facility
Originally Published: November 21, 2024
Commissioners Make Final Decision
A childcare center for county employees is on the way after the Commissioners decided last year to put nearly $1.9M towards the project. Originally, the plan was to install a modular building on the small green space between Leonard Hall Dr and Leonard Hall Recreation Center. Site design was approved by the Leonardtown Planning Commission in August for a 6,347 square foot (SF) building that could house up to 73 children. The total cost for the project was estimated at $2.54M.
In September, Commissioners directed Jim Gotsch, Director of the Department of Public Works & Transportation (DWPT), to look into using the soon-to-be vacant building currently home to Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy (LHJNA). At the beginning of 2024 the County issued a letter to LHJNA terminating their lease, citing over $500K in required repairs the school could not afford to complete. The academy has since been looking for a new location.
The LHJNA building is 9300 SF and could accommodate 114 children. Required repairs include “addition of a sprinkler system, restroom outfits in classrooms, an HVAC upgrade and storefront window/door improvements,” according to Director Gotsch’s memo to the Commissioners. Locating the childcare center here would have a total project cost of $3.5M, with $2.3M of that for building renovations. Time to complete is 18 months, versus 12 months for the modular building. Gotsch informed the Commissioners of the options, and costs associated, at their October 29th business meeting.
Gotsch ran through the options for securing additional funding for the LHJNA option, which included $354K leftover from the North County Farmers Market project, and realigning $424K and $302K from the Regional Agricultural Center and Building Services budgets, respectively. However, at this week’s November 19th budget work session, Gotsch suggested reallocating $1.1M from roadway roundabout construction to make up the shortfall. The Director said plans for FY26 construction of roundabouts at Pegg Rd/Westbury Blvd and Wildewood Pkwy/Blvd will likely have a $1M surplus which could be used elsewhere.
During the October 29th meeting, Commissioners Hewitt and Guy both remarked that renovating the academy building would be cheaper when looking at the higher number of childcare enrollments it could have. Commissioner Colvin thought the building could be used as office space for county employees, but Commissioner Ostrow said the location is already designed as a school. He agreed with Hewitt and Guy that using it for office space was not a good fit.
At the end of the budget work session this week, the Commissioners gave their approval to move forward with renovating LHJNA for the childcare center.
