October 21, 2022 |
Once again, Ellie Dana came before the Saratoga Town Council to seek approval to move her daycare into the clinic building.
Located 1208 South River Street, the Corbett Medical Building is home to the Platte Valley Clinic. When the North Platte Valley Medical Center opens their doors early next year, the clinic will be relocated into the hospital. Valley Village Child Care would like to then move into the clinic building.
In order for the Corbett Building to comply with Division of Family Services requirements, costly upgrades would need to be done. It is a publicly owned building, making the town responsible for years of deferred maintenance.
Price has been a sticking point between Ellie Dana, vice-chairperson of the Valley Village board of directors, and the town. Dana plans a complete remodel of the interior of the Corbett Medical Building, which would require the structure to be brought up to modern code standards. Dana said she would pay to upgrade the inside, but she is asking the town, as the landlord, to cover the cost of exterior repairs.
The pillars of the portico on the front of the building would be the least expensive repair. Dana suggested stripping away the brick façade from the internal supports.
Pictured above: File photo of the Ray A. Corbett Medical Building. Photo by Bigfoot 99.
The council asked Vice-chairperson Dana to bring them estimates for the rest of the work she is asking for. Dana had a quote from a painting contractor.
Dana suggested the town wait to repair the roof until she is able to have the fire suppression system installed in the attic.
Repaving the parking lot was discussed, but Dana did not have an estimate.
A major sticking point between Dana and the town relates to the Kathy Glode Park. Because a licensed daycare facility must have a certain amount of fenced in area by DFS regulations, Ellie Dana has suggested she portion off a section of the park across the street. Dana explained what part of the park she would like to use.
Mayor Creed James mentioned he was under the impression that Dana wanted to fence off the park’s play equipment. Dana said the Division of Family Services requires her to have a fenced in area of a certain size. It could be anywhere on the park grounds.
Councilwoman D’Ron Campbell asked about liability. Who would be responsible if someone were to get hurt considering the park is town property, but the fence would belong to Valley Village Child Care. Dana said when the kids are in the park, they are the responsibility of the daycare.
Councilman Jon Nelson called the question of liability a strawman argument.
Nelson went on to say Saratoga has legal protection. Unless an injury was caused by obvious negligence, the town cannot be sued. Nelson said life is inherently risky.
Councilman Ron Hutchins was concerned that the town was heading down a slippery slope by giving public land to a private company. Nelson said the town is within its right when it’s for the good of the community.
Councilman Nelson asked Dana if the town would be better served by sectioning off part of the parking lot instead of the park. This would require less repaving and provide the daycare with the government mandated fenced play space.
Dana said she would be open to the idea. She requested someone from the town survey the parking area to determine which spaces she could use.
New developments this morning
New developments show that Valley Village Child Care is no longer asking the town to allow them to fence off a section of the Kathy Glode Park. Also, off the table is Councilman Jon Nelson’s suggestion that Ellie Dana use part of the parking lot as play space. Dana said she could use the yard around the Corbett Medical Building instead.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Dana gave up on her original plan. At Councilman Nelson’s prompting, she then looked into using the parking area. Dana said that arrangement was too complicated.
Plans to offer the DFS required fenced play space have changed several times. When Dana saw the park was not an option, Plan B was using the parking lot. That plan fell through, so Plan C would use the grassy yard around the clinic building. Dana said she has no Plan D.
To entice the town to approve her original idea, Dana suggested that families could use Valley Village’s equipment when the daycare wasn’t in the park. Dana said she was discouraged by the reception that plan received.
Dana was convinced that having a fenced area in the Kathy Glode Park was a good idea. She said that more public support may have swayed the council to see things her way.
Ellie Dana must wait for council approval before moving forward with using the Corbett Medical Building grounds as government mandated outdoor play space. Saratoga Town Attorney Jane France will review Valley Village’s lease request before any decision can be made. Even if the town allows the new fence location, there is still a lot of ground to cover before they come to an official agreement.
