(Seguin) — The Guadalupe County Elections Office is getting a new home. The land and building purchase of the former USDA (the U.S. Department of Agriculture) building on State Highway 123, was recently approved by members of the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court. The building is located at 3251 State Highway North 123.
Drew Engelke, Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct. 2, is the one who approached the court with the idea. Engelke says the $2.15 million purchase is an important investment for the county to make.
“As we all know, the population – things are somewhat exploding in the county, and we can consider our services to the citizens important, and I felt that this was a good avenue for the election’s office for the future. The current location is very limited in their space. They’ve outgrown it as we have in other departments, but parking was a concern. So, looking at this facility which many of us know as the old USDA facility located just north of Interstate 10 on Highway 123, the corner of Strempel Road. It’s little over three acres of land so there is room to grow. The facility itself is about a 7,800 square foot facility with triple probably the parking, amount of space that we have. It’s very unique in the fact that it is going to be a little more centralized for citizens for access from I-10 and State Highway 123 and also provides a better avenue for the voters to do what they need to do in reference to the long-term goals that we have for the county,” said Engelke.
Engelke says with the election’s office moving to this facility, it allows the ability to provide additional elbow room for other growing departments.
“This also affects other departments within the county so it’s kind of almost a 3 for 1 so with elections then moving to this facility – within the budget, we’ve already put in the budget for some remodel expense going forward – being forward thinking that we are and then when elections vacates the current facility, purchasing will then go to that facility – minor remodels probably on that facility and then maintenance of which they currently exist, sharing office space with purchasing, will then have their own warehouse and their own office space. So, it not only affects elections in the future — for the voters in the county — but also two other departments,” said Engelke.
Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher says although the current elections office is located just a couple of blocks away from the Guadalupe County Courthouse, he believes this purchase is a very smart and responsible move.
“The county had an opportunity many many years ago to build a facility that included our own 4H Agri-life office that was USDA to lease back. It did not work out at the time because of a number of funding mechanisms and timing and just different agreements but it’s interesting how things come full circle where now we have the opportunity to purchase this property for long term use and ownership by the county. I wish it was done a different way 20 or 30 years ago, but it wasn’t. We will try to look at these things and learn from them as we go forward but the big positive today hopefully with the court approving this is that we have something for I would say all around $3 million after purchase and remodel that would probably cost us $4 or $4.5 million to try to recreate if we could do the same thing,” said Kutscher.
Kutscher says there are many benefits associated with this purchase of this building. He says there are benefits for both taxpayers and voters in Guadalupe County.
“Savings to the taxpayers, you’ve got increased traffic with our own election’s office as well as additional requirements on transparency and security in elections offices that reside in each county in the state of Texas. With this property, you are basically doubling the square footage of what elections has today and as the commissioner stated, giving ease of access to the citizens on being able to get to the elections office to do business not only during election time but during voter registration, during key trainings with volunteers during a number of events that may go on – to have the space there, to have the flexibility for expansion in the future, to have potential sewer coming in close to that project in the future that allows for other connectivity, it really is a win-win for the county in my opinion. I want to thank not only Commissioner Engelke but the entire court for being proactive on seeking properties out like this that benefit the county long term and ultimately will save money down the road on not having to recreate something like this for a much higher price tag,” said Kutscher.
The USDA building has been vacant since the operation moved into a new building of its own at 999 Fleming Drive near Texas Lutheran University.