VCC Gives Go-Ahead To Site For Medical Examiner’s Office

DeLand, FL – Volusia County Council members followed staff recommendations today (February 2), choosing the most economical option "C" which is located next to the new Sheriff’s Office Evidence Facility for the new Medical Examiner’s office. It’s also the site where the facility can be built the quickest.  According to Volusia County Medical Examiner Dr.James Fulcher, the promise of a new facility was one of the reasons he took the position in July 2019. He said at that time that a new facility could be located near the Volusia County law enforcement complex. Volusia County’s New Medical ExaminerReady To Take Charge Fulcher said that when he took over, there were a number of operational deficiencies, which have been addressed. He said the turn-around time at the facility has been cut five times. He also said a new building would lead to proper accreditation. "When we get the building, we can apply for accreditation that day. We’ll be prepared, I promise you that. The executive summary is that we don’t have enough space. These new buildings engineer efficiency." County Manager George Recktenwald said that the current M.E. Office will not go to waste, as other agencies are interested in taking it over. He also said that a new office has been in the budget for several years. "This is our number one priority capital project so, we will either shift other projects back a little bit to make sure that this is paid for but it will come out of that long-term capital funding." Recktenwald said the general contractor and the engineering-architectural firm are already in place and ready to go. The next task assignment for the Schenkel & Schultz, Inc. consultant team is to prepare all of the necessary design documents and obtain the required permits for the new medical examiner’s office at the recommended site. The cost is not to exceed $993,000.00.