Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the MCPS and M-NCPPC Maintenance Facilities Ribbon-Cutting
8301 Turkey Thicket Drive, Gaithersburg
As prepared
Good Morning!
As many of you know, I enjoy groundbreaking ceremonies but I love ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
My colleagues on the County Council feel the same way.
But Councilmembers are not able to attend today because the Council is holding a major work session on the County’s FY18 budget, and they have to be there to provide their input.
When planning the County budget, I take into consideration that our County agencies and departments cannot be successful if their equipment and facilities cannot be kept in good working order.
For those of you involved in maintenance, you know that when maintenance is done right, people rarely notice because everything is working as they expect it will be.
But if something breaks down, then you can count on quickly receiving complaints.
Today, we are taking positive notice of the importance of facilities’ maintenance by celebrating the completion of this campus of buildings.
These are the facilities that will help keep both Montgomery County Public Schools and Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission properties and equipment in good repair and proper working order.
This event is particularly important to me because it honors the completion of another building project in my Smart Growth Initiative.
When I first came into office, I was presented with a list of new and renovated County facilities that were needed.
I looked at that list and then looked at the land we had that I thought could be more productively used.
In 2008, I came up with my Smart Growth Initiative.
I said, ‘Look, we are going to move these facilities to where it makes more sense now and in the future to have them.’
This Multi-Agency Service Park houses several Smart-Growth Initiative projects like the Public Safety Training Academy behind us that opened in 2016, and the MCPS Food and Nutrition Center next door, that opened in 2015.
The Smart Growth Initiative is a model of efficiency.
It is a better use of taxpayer money and improves County effectiveness to house both the Montgomery County Public Schools Central Maintenance Depot and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Green Farm Maintenance Facility in this joint campus setting.
By relocating, we’ve made way for a sustainable, transit-oriented community near the Shady Grove Metro and we are boosting the economic health and competitiveness of Montgomery County.
Thank you to our Department of General Services project staff, under the direction of David Dise, for successfully bringing this new facility to completion.
Thank you to everyone who works in this new building. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated. I am proud that Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery Parks and all who use their services will benefit from this latest Smart Growth Initiative project.
Thank you!
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Release ID: 17-060
May 17; 11:30 a.m.