News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Pickett County Commission voted against the purchase of the Regions Bank property in Byrdstown.
Commissioners voted nine to four against the $278,500 purchase Monday. County Executive Carey Garner said the 6,500 square foot building was being explored as a new office location and jail project.
“We met up there when I first took office with Bob Bass, the Fire Marshal” Garner said. “They basically told us that we could use it for office space. If we build a jail, we could build it out back. It couldn’t be tied to that building. It would have to be a bridge way out there.”
The Byrdstown Board of Alderman in February approved giving the county priority to the Main Street location near city hall. The city has received one other bid for the building for $280,000.
During the commission meeting, problems of ADA compliance and aging infrastructure were cited as concerns for the current courthouse. Currently, the county ships its inmates to neighboring counties to be housed.
No response was given during the teleconference meeting on how the county plans to move forward to address jail needs.
