News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Final studies of Putnam County’s future fairgrounds property have come to a close.
Mayor Randy Porter said Monday that the planning phase for the 187-acres will begin after the new year.
“We did the core drilling and it all came back looking good,” Porter said. “We’ve done all our due diligence and we close on the property this Thursday morning at 9:00.”
The Putnam County Commission voted to purchase the property surrounding Tennessee Avenue earlier this year for $5.5 million. Porter has indicated that the property could not only house a fairgrounds and expo center, but also a new school bus garage and county highway department.
As for the current fairgrounds property, Porter previously said that county commissioners may consider a resolution to sell the the property by February.
“State law is very specific as to how county property has to be sold. The first thing the commission would have to do is to vote for it to become surplus property,” Porter said. “Once that has happened, then there’s three ways that the commission can sell it. It has to be sealed bid, a public auction, or an internet auction. My guess is that it would probably be a public auction or an internet auction.”
The commission could also be asked to consider selling the property that currently houses the bus garage and highway department. Porter said in October that the county could use proceeds from selling all three parcels for purchasing the new land.
Porter said the appraised value of the current fairgrounds is $10.1 million. He estimated a $3 million value for the school bus garage and highway department property.
