Renovations will mean more space for Burke DSS

Last year, Burke County accomplished a couple of key goals in its capital improvement plan by beginning construction on a new EMS base and Animal Services building.

Next up is renovating the Parker Road complex that houses the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Public Health.

The building was constructed in 1973. An assessment of county buildings in 2020 found it was outdated and near the end of its functional life. The building received a score of 2.42 on a scale of 1-5, placing it near the bottom of the list.

The board of commissioners opted to tackle the project in phases at the annual budget retreat in early March. The $10 million renovation carried the lowest price tag among four options presented to the commission.

Bidding for design and engineering services on Phase 1 closed late last month.

The plan calls for renovating the building’s current space of 62,000 square feet to better accommodate the 250 employees from both departments who work there.

Some additional space — 14,000 square feet — will open up in a couple of years. Burke County Public Schools is moving its central office to the old Burke United Christian Ministries building on West Union Street. That move is expected to take place in June 2026.

Phase 1 will make use of the space already available by redesigning the interior. Phase 2 would allow for additional square footage if it’s needed in the future.

Versatility is a vital part of capital improvement plans like the one Burke adopted in 2023.

“A capital improvement plan is really fluid,” Epley said. “It’s updated annually based on changing new information, priorities, and funding streams. So, it’s always an attempt to forecast capital needs and align that with funding from year to year.”

“Obviously, priorities change, costs change, timing changes,” Epley added. “And so, you add or subtract things you may have completed or things that are new priorities.”

Epley detailed three other options with higher price tags at the budget retreat: New construction ($45 million); expansion ($30 million); or moving the two offices to the Foothills Higher Education Center ($20 million).

Commissioners chose the fourth option, adaptive reuse of the existing building.

The recommended funding source for the project is either a bank installment or Limited Obligation Bond — a bond that doesn’t commit taxpayers to funding a specific project.

Commissioners approved a sweeping capital improvement plan in 2023, dividing their goals into short-, medium-, and long-range projects.

Short-term projects, like the East Burke and Jonas Ridge waste collection sites, have been completed.

Mid-range goals, like the EMS base, Animal Services building, and phase one of the Public Health/Social Service improvements, are currently underway. Work has not begun on upgrading the Indian Hills pump station. The county is researching Hurricane Helene relief funds for that project.

Long-term goals include phase two of the Public Health/Social Services building, EMS base additions, and library expansion, among others.