Although Henry County and the City of Martinsville collaborate on a number of services, city officials are interested in exploring other options, and county officials are open.
Martinsville Mayor LC Jones said that while it is his understanding that the county didn’t want to have conversations until after some of the issues in the city are finalized, discussions could begin with the city’s treatment of the county’s sewage.
The county, he said, wants the Henry County Public Service Authority (PSA) to remain a city customer, “and we want the PSA to remain a customer,” Jones said, adding that those discussions could result in more opportunities for additional ways to work together, particularly with respect to issues in city hall.
“Why not now have that conversation,” Jones asked. He added that by the first or second quarter of next year, all city staff located on the top floor of the Municipal Building are scheduled to move into space at 1 Elsworth St.
However, that move does not include the city courts, clerks’ and judges’ offices or related court staff or the jail, which Jones said is nearing the end of its life expectancy as are many of the city’s facilities, nor does it include the results of a city facilities study that’s currently underway — prompted in part by what was initially thought to be mold issues that arose in the municipal building.
Interim City Manager Rob Fincher said once completed, the architectural firm conducting the study will make recommendations to “remodel the existing” facility, add an addition to it or “start over and build new.”
Looking ahead, Jones said it may be possible to “fit all of our judges in” the county’s courthouse. While he understands there isn’t space in that building for court clerks and other support staff, “I think it could all be worked out.”
However, Jones cautioned, “that’s just me talking. My opinion. I don’t know what the judges want,” the process involved or whether approval would be needed from the state. Regardless, such an arrangement “could help the people with a financial burden in the long run.
“From everything we’ve been told from our staff, the options we’ve been given” include a temporary structure “in the back parking lot” could be used to house Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court operations, Jones said, but “that’s not going to be a good long-term” solution.
Fincher said the city is considering the temporary housing fix due to a show-cause order from the court that requires it to relocate J&DR Court from the basement. However, the situation is not adversarial, and both parties are working to find a solution.
Both Fincher and Jones were quick to add that they are not talking about reversion or consolidation. Rather, Fincher said they hope to look at existing services to “make sure we’re not duplicating services and work for efficiencies.”
He noted that some services may be a better fit, while others would not.
For instance, the 1997 joining of Martinsville’s and Henry County’s social services departments into what is now the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services was a successful venture that aided residents by streamlining the application, records, and other processes, particularly for those who move between the city and county.
“Although they’re in constant need of more help down there, the centralized location and ability to help residents in need has improved,” Fincher said, adding the joint 911 Center is another successful example of collaboration.
Other services, however, cannot be consolidated, partly due to statutory requirements. The city, for example, is required by law to have a commissioner of revenue. “So, some are required as long as we are a city,” Fincher said, but wherever possible, Fincher said he favors collaboration.
“I would love working with the county on several things,” Fincher said, adding that he has worked with County Administrator Dale Wagoner and Assistant County Administrator JR Powell over the years. He hopes those relationships could pave the way for improved communication and cooperation between the two governments.
“We haven’t had any discussions yet,” Fincher said. “We’re willing to look at all options. If it’s something that would improve the lives of citizens — whether it’s city or county, we need to look at it.”
Jones agreed and stressed that while he does not know the approvals or processes that would need to be followed in cases of particular options — such as the courts — he hopes Fincher and Wagoner can come up with a list of potential options. Jones said if an item on the list isn’t feasible, move on to the next item and discuss it.
He added that he would like both the Martinsville City Council and the Henry County Board of Supervisors to give their blessing to the two localities to at least consider potential options.
“This is saying, ‘what do we have in common? How can we complement each other,’” Jones said. “Our success is tied to each other.”
Henry County
Jim Adams, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, said that while he is not aware of any discussions currently underway, “we certainly in the past … have discussed” and partnered on several services/projects.
“I think we in the county are always open to ideas on what we can do to make us stronger,” Adams said. Using a list as Jones did as an example, “we could talk about a situation, look at it,” and if it isn’t the right fit, “cross it off” and move to the next.
The county has historically partnered with the city, Adams said, and cited examples like the joint E-911 Center, social service department, sewer, mutual aid among emergency services personnel, and a host of others.
“If one locality needs help, the other provides,” Adams said. “Quite a bit of coordination between the county and the city has gone on through the years. Certainly, I would be open to ideas being discussed. Having an open dialogue is healthy in organizations to see what may or may not provide efficiencies, growth, and a host of other benefits.”
County Administrator Dale Wagoner said, “We’re busy running the county and we’ve got a lot going on,” from working on economic development projects to keeping taxes low for residents and all of the other factors involved in “maintaining our community, but if it would be a benefit to our residents, we would be open to it.”
While he has not talked to Fincher yet, Wagoner also noted, “There are many examples of us working collaboratively with the city when it benefits residents. We have many examples of city/county collaboration.”
In addition to the joint social services department, he cited the 911 Center “as a perfect model of how localities can work together. We also let the (city) fire department use our burn building, and we have a joint police academy,” Wagoner said of the Piedmont Regional Justice Training Academy.
“If the city has a need or wants to meet with us, I’m open” to meeting, he said, and added discussions about opportunities to collaborate can start at any level, from supervisors and their counterparts on the city council to department heads.
“It could even start at the staff level if there’s a need specific to that department,” Wagoner said.
