Bobby Vannatta asks a question during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commisioners. At right is Commissioner Roger Brothers. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to put out a request for proposals from parties interested in buying the old Harris Middle School building and from those interested in buying the soon-to-be-vacant Bedford County Medical Center.

If money is available, the county will also do a study of the possibility of using the BCMC building for apartments or assisted living.

Only the large two-story HMS building, which had been Central High School until the late 1970s, is included in the request for proposals. The one-story annex is being used by the school system for alternative education and out-of-school suspension and the gymnasium is being leased to the City of Shelbyville for recreational programs. The county is not seeking to sell either of those buildings.

BCMC's county-owned building will become vacant this summer once the for-profit hospital moves to its new facility on U.S. 231 North and changes its name to Heritage Medical Center.

Commissioner Roger Brothers said a study of using the hospital building for assisted living could cost as much as $50,000. But Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson estimated that it could cost the county a considerable amount to maintain the vacant building, so the county has an interest in making other plans for it -- either by selling it or converting it to some income-producing use.

The commission also approved a plan to separate Bedford County Nursing Home's utility services from those of the old hospital building, which it adjoins. The county will spend up to $100,000 on the project, which will include a separate boiler and fire alarm system for the nursing home. The money will come from unused bond funds and the nursing home's memorial fund.

The nursing home remains under county ownership.

In other discussion Tuesday night, the commission approved a lease agreement governing the city's use of the old Harris gymnasium and athletic fields.

Commissioners also approved a plan for the county to swap services and credit with Heritage Medical Center for projects relating to the hospital's relocation, such as using county-owned ambulances to transport patients from the old hospital to the new one.