Cumberland Looking At Site For New Highway Building

Cumberland County wants to pursue an available facility for a new highway building and complex.

County Mayor Allen Foster said county officials have looked at a eight-acre complex at the corner of Highway 70 and Northside Drive. The county pursued a lease of the facility when the existing highway facility became unsafe. The owner offered to sell it.

“It’s something we are looking to move on, there’s no use waiting, we know we have an issue, we’ve got to decide whether we’re either gonna have to rebuild and build a new building on the existing property or go with something already built,” Foster said.

Foster said he would like to have county commissioners look at an agreement during the September meeting if everything can be pulled together in time. If not, Foster said they would look at it in October.

“The Building and Grounds Committee have looked at it to just see if it’s something that might fit our needs long term for possibly more than just the Highway Department,” Foster said.

Foster said using the old location in its current state is off the table.

“It’s just in really poor shape, it’s a very old building, and leaks and safety issues,” Foster said.

Foster said the county has considered rebuilding on the site of the old building. The Building and Grounds Committee has also looked at other possible sites around the county.