A state inspection has rated the Rowan Social Services building on West Innes Street as inadequate, with serious safety and security problems.

County officials say they are taking steps to deal with the problems, but give little hope for a new building in the foreseeable future. The building complex serves as the headquarters for the county Social Services Department, with 110 employees serving hundreds of clients.

Officials acknowledge that makeshift offices have been created and that the maze of corridors is often filled with equipment and other materials.

James Clark, a regional official with the State Division of Social Services, met with the Rowan board this week to review his evaluation and the department’s overall needs.

Clark cited numerous problems with the overcrowded building complex, and warned of problems if a critical incident such as a fire happens. “The layout does not lend itself to speedy evacuations and the building is overcrowded with people and materials.’’

Clark, in his written assessment and in talking with the board, urged that improvements at the building be put at the top of the county’s list. He said county commissioners will be sent a letter calling for the deficiencies to be fixed. He urged the Social Services Board to join in making the case to commissioners.

“If a fire occurred in the maze of various sections, how would people get out?” asked Clark. He urged the board to invite county commissioners to visit the building and look at the situation.

The state evaluation did not surprise staff and board members.

Officials agreed that the West Innes Street building is in many respects a “disaster” but said they must make the best of the situation.

Board Chairman Frank Tadlock and Director of Administration Ken Deal said there is little chance the county will build a new facility anytime soon.

Deal outlined plans to improve the building.

He took issue with Clark over safety, saying that the building is inspected by the fire marshal three times a year. Deal said there have never been any warnings about a fire hazard.

He admitted that “a lot of stuff” ends up in the hallways.

Deal said plans are in the works to put a new roof on the building and to paint the interior walls, starting with the first floor.

Deal also outlined plans for a new security installation that would control access to the various sections of the building.

Clients will be restricted to the lobby area until escorted to an office. Signs will be added throughout the complex, clearly marking exits.

Social Services Director Sandra Wilkes and other staffers had high praise for a security system installed at the Mahaley Avenue office, which contains the children’s protective service division.

The recently refurbished Mahaley Avenue facility drew a favorable report from the state officials. Clark said he found the building adequate in all respects.

During an extensive discussion of the Innes Street building, Tadlock and Deal discussed the possibility of building a two- or three-story building adjacent to the current facility.

Deal said there is sufficient land at the site. Tadlock suggested a building to provide 20 or more offices.

Amid the discussion of refurbishing the current building, Board Member Edwin Koontz shared his perspective.

The retired director of the department cited the history. He pointed out that initially there were two separate buildings, one housed DSS, and the other housed the health department and farm services.

In July 1988, the two buildings were joined with a covered walkway, after farm services and the health department relocated.

“Whatever you do, you will still have two old buildings that were never designed for social services,” said Koontz.

“We’ll have to make do,” responded Tadlock.

Much of the discussion involved storing files. The department is required to keep files for years on each client. Hundreds of file cabinets are stored in the basement and in every space available.

Board member Zell Setzer asked about using an imaging system instead of paper.

Clark said some departments in the area are going to imaging systems, with mixed success.

Deal and Koontz noted that the problem of storage has been around for nearly 20 years. They recalled a series of annual requests seeking some type of imaging system, but it has never been funded.

Clark said state funding is available to pay a share of the cost for building repair, a new building, and imaging equipment.

The board agreed to give priority to getting a new office building to ease crowding, and to seek a new imaging or information retrieval system.