Social Services officials seek county help with facility

The Rowan Social Services board will push for a new building to replace the Innes Street facility, which the state has judged inadequate and unsafe.

Board members were reacting to a letter from a regional official of the Division of Social Services asking commissioners to respond with a corrective action plan within 90 days.

Regional Manager James B. Clark has written county officials informing them of the problems found during an inspection of the facility.

“Rowan County has 90 days from the receipt of this report to develop and submit to this office a corrective action plan,” Clark wrote. “This plan should include specific strategies to correct the problems along with expected dates for completion.”

He urged commissioners to put the building needs of the department at the top of its priority list.

Clark met with the Social Services board last month to review an inspection checklist of the facility and its problems. Clark said the layout of the building poses a safety hazard for staff, clients and visitors. The evaluation also found a lack of adequate maintenance of the building,

“We shouldn’t be shy about asking for a new building,” said board member Lee Piper. She suggested the board and staff start working now on making the case for a new building.

“It’s scary, but I agree with you,” said board member Zell Setzer, who has repeatedly clashed with Piper.

Chairman Edwin Koontz described the Innes Street complex last month as three old buildings that were just put together and were never designed as a Social Services building.

Koontz suggested a first step of making contact with county officials. After that, Koontz suggested the board may need to push the issue.

Vice Chairman Marjorie Kinard said a new building would be desirable but said board members need to be willing to consider other options.

Board members said they will revist the issue at next month’s meeting and consider meeting with county commissioners to discuss both staffing and building needs.

The inspection report cited the building as being overcrowded, with the halls filled with filing cabinets and materials. The evaluation also found the building is not being properly maintained.

In other matters, the board unanimously adopted a new guardianship policy. It basically combines existing policy and state law.