Leonard Hall’s Lease Not Renewed
Originally Published: January 16, 2024
What’s the “Why” Behind This?
Earlier today, JJ Atchison of The Baynet reported the closure of Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy. Leonard Hall received a letter from County Administrator David Weiskopf which said, in part “the County feels it necessary for the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens that it is best to terminate [the] rental relationship.” The County leased the space to Leonard Hall for the past 10 years, a lease which expired in June 2023.
Read The Baynet’s story here: https://thebaynet.com/leonard-hall-junior-naval.../...
Weiskopf’s letter stated “the school currently needs over $500K in repairs.” But that wasn’t quite the story back in May 2023, when the Commissioners discussed this during a Budget Work Session. (Watch here at 41:47 https://www.youtube.com/live/wmb6PneYSPg...)
It was near the end of the budget process, when appeals for previously denied funding were made. Jim Gotsch, Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT), requested an additional $160K for Capital Improvement Project PF-2408, specifically to replace air conditioning units with mini-split systems at Leonard Hall.
Director Gotsch said 36 of the 39 AC units “are not functioning.” The requested $160K would pay for the replacement of window units with panes of glass and the installation of mini-splits. Commissioner Colvin remarked that the amount had increased from a previously discussed $100K. Commissioners Hewitt and Ostrow said they had previously met with the Headmistress of Leonard Hall, asking for a complete assessment of repairs needed, and requested Leonard Hall increase enrollment to help shoulder some of the cost. “We’d like to see a business plan that takes enrollment up and allows them to contribute a larger share towards the maintenance of the building. Their rent is only $12K per year,” Hewitt said. He further noted Leonard Hall only had 36 students.
The age of the building concerned Commissioner Ostrow, who said there could be more damage to find. However, Director Gostch said County maintenance crews did a walk through of the building “about a week ago,” estimating only $100K in additional repairs are needed. Gotsch explained the County maintains “the shell of the building now, the roof, the walls, the exterior structure.” He said the roof and shell of the building are in good shape. Items to address are painting, wood rot, installing LED lighting, switching from single to double pane windows, and if the County took over the building in full that could be accomplished. Commissioner Colvin suggested tabling the request for $160K to install mini-split air conditioning units until more could be discussed on the subject as a whole.
Something that sticks out to me, well a few things, are the differences in projected repair costs. Weiskopf cites $500K in his letter, but according to DPWT Director Gotsch back in May 2023 that number was only $260K. Also, the County conducted a “Space Need Study” within the past few years which showed a huge need for expansion. In fact, back at the 12/6/22 Budget Work Session, IT Director Bob Kelly said it was getting critical as the County had added 139 positions since 2019. Talks of demolishing the current Department of Emergency Services building, just adjacent to the Chesapeake Building at the Governmental Center have continued since as early as 2008. The idea is to replace the EMS building with a replica of the Chesapeake Building, estimated at nearly $16M in cost. If this happened, it would primarily affect the following County Departments: EMS, IT, Aging & Human Services.
The domino that could get all this moving is the construction of the new Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, which will free up space in the Patuxent Building for other County Department’s which will need to move to make way for EMS to move. Now, this is complete speculation on my part, but if structural integrity of the Leonard Hall building is good, and the County takes over the entire building, this would provide space for them to house County employees.
I’d also like to note the use of “health, safety, and general welfare” statement in the County Attorney’s letter, which is something I have advocated for the County Commissioners and Planning Commission to invoke when making decisions.
Remember, there is a Commissioners public forum on January 30th.
