Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/203490
Sarasota News Leader November 1, 2013 intended to go. That would result in higher operational costs, he pointed out, because the Sheriff's Office could not risk letting someone there for training purposes, for example, create a problem with the chain of evidence collection. He stressed "the significant differences in the uses" between the training building, for example, and the proposed facility that would be used jointly by the medical examiner and the Forensics Unit in the Cattlemen site plan with multiple low-rise structures. Yet, Patterson told Gable, "I don't really see why you have to have the separate forensics building. … We really have designed a pretty suburban complex there." Patterson also asked whether the training facility is "a real county need or one of those, 'Gee, it would be nice to have, so let's draw it in there.'" Page 47 OVERALL NEEDS Spitler pointed out to the News Leader that Knight feels the Cattlemen site has many advantages for employees, including its access to Interstate 75 — which would shorten the travel time to work for employees who live in South County — and its proximity to Benderson Park, which will be hosting more and larger events leading up to the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Spitler characterized those location factors as "time saving we can't even put a number on." Spitler also stressed, "We're constantly looking at efficiencies, security and providing good service [to the community]." He added, "We spend a lot of time taking care of everyone else." Yet, the sheriff has facilities spread all over the county and many of the structures are inadequate or vulnerable to storm damage — a point he made during the County Commission's previous workshop on the Cattlemen site plan, which was held in March. Gable told her the facility is needed and that it would serve not only the sheriff's staff but also the Emergency Services Department One primary example, which the News Leader has included in past articles, is that fleet employees. equipment valued at $7 million — including The training facility in current use, he pointed specialized Sheriff's Office vehicles — has no out, is "very, very sparse." shelter at the current site where it is stored. When Patterson suggested it would be log- Gable told the commissioners county staff is ical to put the training space in the same continuing to work on options for improved new structure with the sheriff's administra- fleet storage. tive offices, Gable replied that Sheriff Tom Knight's staff wanted independent access to "We provide No. 1 service," Spitler said, and the department needs top-flight facilities to those structures. do that. Patterson told him that could be figured into the design of the building, just as doctor's Nonetheless, he added, Knight has been offices have independent access for the vari- clear in that "we'll do whatever the County ous physicians. Commission wants." %