News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The City of Byrdstown has completed its purchase of the former Regions Bank property.
Mayor Sam Gibson said the city will utilize the property’s 93 parking spaces for public events.
“We’ve had a hard time to finding any place to park for these people,” Gibson said. “But now it’s ours, we organized it. It’s going to be a big asset not only to us but the library and the county commission when they have their meetings. It’s going to be a big asset for us.”
Byrdstown’s aldermen approved a resolution Monday authorizing the purchase. The city paid $242,000 for the property plus a 10-percent buyers premium, putting the total price at $266,200.
Gibson said the city is still weighing its options on how to use the building itself, including the possibility of giving the facility to the Pickett County government.
“If the county ever got to the point where they really needed a justice center and wanted to use the back of it to build a jail, we’re going to try and work with them the best we can,” Gibson said. “I don’t know that that’ll be a big need, but if it is, we’re ready for it. We’re not in it to make money. We’re in it to try to help the county out the best we can and the city, and it’s going to help everyone if that takes place and that can be done.”
Regions Bank closed the Byrdstown branch in late 2017. The city used the parking lot for its Independence Day celebrations June 29.
