County proceeds with rescue squad building purchase
Lexington Park, MD - 2/13/2014

By Dick Myers
The St. Mary’s County Commissioners are moving ahead with plans to purchase the current Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad building and converting it into a Sheriff’s Office substation. A new rescue squad building is under construction near the library and the volunteer organization will use the funds from the sale to go towards operating costs.
The original agreement for the purchase was between the rescue squad and the Community Development Corporation. It was later decided for the county to do the purchase. The documents signed by the commissioners on Tuesday affect that switch to the county and also provide for the rescue squad to continue to use the building at a nominal rent until the new building is ready to occupy. The new building is now under roof.
One of the impediments to occupying the new building will be the completion of the FDR Boulevard off Great Mills Road. Public Works Director George Erichsen said that road would be finished as soon as the weather breaks.
Cost to acquire the building will be more than $500,000. In August the commissioners agreed to fund $125,000 to secure a state match. The newly signed documents will now be forwarded to the state for approval and then the final sales agreement between the county and rescue squad can to completed, according to County Attorney George Sparling.
Erichsen told the commissioners that design of the renovation of the rescue squad building will be done in the next fiscal year and construction in Fiscal Year 2016. Erichsen said the new substation will be formally called the Sheriff’s Department District 4 Office, in recognition that it will house the deputies who handle the southern part of the county.
Commissioner Daniel Morris, a strong supporter of the substation, said it was a shame it couldn’t be done quicker. “It is important for the community to know there is a presence there,” he said.
Erichsen said there would be an environmental assessment of the property because the building was formerly a gas station and it is believed some liquids from a hydraulic lift may have leaked into the soil. But Erichsen said he didn’t believe there will be a problem because soil won’t be disturbed during the renovation. The existing parking lot will be used and renovations will be to the interior with the structure remaining undisturbed.