Daytona Beach, FL – Volusia County’s decision to close the Administration building in downtown Daytona Beach because of the large homeless camp out front is put on hold.
The building at 250 North Beach Street is now expected to remain open until at least February 4th. That’s when Volusia County Council Chairman Jason Davis is expected to talk about a request from Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry to have the VCC meet the Daytona Beach City Commission in a special session to deal with the camp and potential long-term solutions to the area’s homeless problem.
“The mayor sent us a letter late Monday in which he expressed the city’s desire for the city and county to continue to seek a joint solution to the problem,” said Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen in a press release sent to the media on Tuesday.
Henry spoke about that request to WNDB’s Marc Bernier during an interview on Monday. (Click here for that story.)
Dinneen decided to not shut the building down after formally receiving Henry’s request, according to county spokesman Dave Byron.
“The county has beefed up security at the building with Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and private security,” Byron added.
In the press release, Dinneen said he decided to close the building after County Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath decided to close his office there because one of his employees claimed she was “accosted” by one of the homeless while coming into work on Friday morning.
“Once Mr. Gilreath represented to the news media the conditions at our building were unsafe for the public and our employees, he created a liability for us that put the county in a difficult position legally,” Dinneen added.
A report on that encounter was filed by the employee with the Daytona Beach Police Department, but officers have since determined no actual crime happened.
That building – which houses part of the county’s tag, title and tax services as well as offices belonging to the property appraiser, veterans services, human services, the court system and state attorney – has become a focal point for the homeless in the past 2 months since Daytona Beach officials closed nearby Manatee Island Park.
City officials say the park had to be closed due to damage caused by the homeless and have refused to reopen it despite a direct request to do so from the VCC.
Many of the homeless have refused to leave the area, even after the Salvation Army opened up an emergency shelter on Ballough Road on Monday to accommodate them.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.