The local chapter of Disabled American Veterans will be moving into a new temporary office, courtesy of Liberty County.
The small building at 110 Bagley Ave. in Hinesville that currently houses the private, nonprofit group is scheduled for demolition. The county needs the space for parking for the new justice center, which is under construction.
Garlon Penland, commander of Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 46, met with Liberty County Administrator Joey Brown on Wednesday to discuss the options for a temporary office. Brown said the DAV can move into the county’s old environmental health building, adjacent to the current county annex.
“The lights are already on and ready for us,” Penland said. “The building is huge. It just needs to be cleaned a little bit.”
He added a moving date has not been set, and the DAV office will continue to operate in its current location on Bagley Avenue through September.
Brown said the old environmental health building also is scheduled for demolition, but no timetable has been set.
The county will not charge the DAV’s rent or utility fees.
“Clean and Beautiful operates out of the same building,” Brown said. “We’re currently covering the utilities for them where they are now.”
Brown explained that once the justice center is complete and courthouse offices are moved, the old courthouse will be filled by other offices. That could also be a potential solution for the DAV, he said.
“They do a vital function for us,” Brown said. “Our community so intricately linked to the military. Liberty County has a large number of veterans.”
Penland confirmed that the DAV could possibly get an office in the new Veterans Administration clinic planned for Hinesville.
The VA has proposed opening community-based, out-patients clinics in Hinesville and Brunswick. The Hinesville clinic would be 25,000 square feet and is projected to open in 2011.
“We would have a van running out of there and have one person at that office, probably a transportation coordinator,” Penland said. “It would be the same setup they have in Savannah (VA clinic) right now.”
Penland emphasized a DAV office for the proposed VA clinic is not a sure thing, and is simply being considered.
The small building at 110 Bagley Ave. in Hinesville that currently houses the private, nonprofit group is scheduled for demolition. The county needs the space for parking for the new justice center, which is under construction.
Garlon Penland, commander of Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 46, met with Liberty County Administrator Joey Brown on Wednesday to discuss the options for a temporary office. Brown said the DAV can move into the county’s old environmental health building, adjacent to the current county annex.
“The lights are already on and ready for us,” Penland said. “The building is huge. It just needs to be cleaned a little bit.”
He added a moving date has not been set, and the DAV office will continue to operate in its current location on Bagley Avenue through September.
Brown said the old environmental health building also is scheduled for demolition, but no timetable has been set.
The county will not charge the DAV’s rent or utility fees.
“Clean and Beautiful operates out of the same building,” Brown said. “We’re currently covering the utilities for them where they are now.”
Brown explained that once the justice center is complete and courthouse offices are moved, the old courthouse will be filled by other offices. That could also be a potential solution for the DAV, he said.
“They do a vital function for us,” Brown said. “Our community so intricately linked to the military. Liberty County has a large number of veterans.”
Penland confirmed that the DAV could possibly get an office in the new Veterans Administration clinic planned for Hinesville.
The VA has proposed opening community-based, out-patients clinics in Hinesville and Brunswick. The Hinesville clinic would be 25,000 square feet and is projected to open in 2011.
“We would have a van running out of there and have one person at that office, probably a transportation coordinator,” Penland said. “It would be the same setup they have in Savannah (VA clinic) right now.”
Penland emphasized a DAV office for the proposed VA clinic is not a sure thing, and is simply being considered.