City, county could sell unused house

A local real estate agent has expressed interest in an unused building on North Main Street jointly owned by the city and county, according to discussion Tuesday night by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee.

The house, which at one time was used as a secure and private site for interviewing victims of alleged child sexual abuse, is currently unused, and Wayne Neese of Wayne Neese Realty & Auction Co. has inquired about it, telling the county that the City of Shelbyville is willing to dispose of the property.

Courthouse committee members deferred action on the site so that they can study the situation and determine whether the county might need the property for any future use. Members said that if the county did decide to sell, the county would likely issue a request for proposals (RFP) asking for sealed bids on the site.

North Main Street has become more and more important as a retail and commercial corridor over the last decade, which could bode well for the city and county in terms of obtaining a good price for the house.

In other discussion Tuesday night:

Space needs: The committee is still waiting on reports from the judicial system about its space needs and deferred action on county and courthouse office space. Judicial officials have inspected the Gunter Building on the square to investigate whether it could be used for some judicial functions.

Surplus items: The committee approved requests to dispose of surplus vehicles from Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and from Bedford County Sheriff's Department. The committee also heard a request from the Town of Bell Buckle that it be allowed to lease a surplus vehicle for three months while it conducts a trial of providing police protection in town.

Commissioner Tony Barrett, who is also a sheriff's deputy and who was in the audience for the meeting, said none of the vehicles on the sheriff's department surplus list approved that night were in acceptable shape for law enforcement use, even for a trial run. But Barrett said he would investigate whether the department has any other vehicles that might be spared.

CDC repairs: The committee deferred action on a request from the Community Development Center for reimbursement of maintenance costs at its facility on Eaglette Way. The site is jointly owned by the city and county. CDC failed to budget for or to get advance approval for sealing its parking lot, pressure washing its sidewalks, and mowing its lawn, and is now asking the city and county to cover those costs. The total cost is $7,162, which would be $3,581 each from the city and county.

Committee members said that since the item was not on Tuesday night's official agenda they would wait and consider it next month, possibly asking a representative of CDC to attend and discuss the request.