By CHRIS MORRIS
Ground for a new Floyd County Youth Shelter was supposed to be broken this summer. Leah Pezzarossi’s dream was close to becoming a reality.
But the dream of a new shelter was quickly replaced by the ongoing financial nightmare facing the county.
Bids for the $6.5 million project were presented at the June 4 Floyd County Commissioners meeting. But the commissioners never awarded a bid, so the bond that was approved expired.
The reason: money.
To offset the loss of property tax income from the state, officials have been forced to use EDIT funds — Economic Development Income Tax — to operate the county. The county receives $2.3 million a year in EDIT, and the shelter would take $1.3 million of that annually in bond payments if officials moved forward with the construction.
“We’re still optimistic,” said Pezzarossi, executive director of the shelter. “I think it will take more work now ... but we’ll see.”
Steve Bush, president of the commissioners, said there are still several options being studied when it comes to a new youth shelter. He said one thing is definite — building a shelter is the county’s top priority.
“We are looking at different areas to possibly build,” Bush said. “We may want to sell the land [current shelter] and build somewhere else.”
Bush said the land along Grant Line Road will be appraised soon, in case county officials decide to put it on the market.
“We have to look at all of our options,” Bush said.
Bush also said he has been working with architect Larry Timperman to try and scale back the original plans. He said almost $1 million was trimmed by eliminating an access road to the fire station next to Sam Peden Community Park, along with other amenities.
Pezzarossi said the current structure — which has had its share of problems — is “holding its own.” She said every time it rains, the ceiling leaks. The state health and sanitation inspection of the building is scheduled for later this year.
The capacity of the shelter is 18, and Pezzarossi said there are 16 people there — many of who are considered long-term residents.
Dana Fendley, a member of the Floyd County Council and Youth Services Board, said all options should be studied, including renovating the current building, a route requested by the Floyd County Historical Society.
She also said if donors would come forward — or if the county could apply for grants — a shelter would be built.
“If we could get that one big contribution, we could get started building it. Money follows money,” she said. “We just need to get that one big donor.”
