The county has received an official notice from the Tennessee Department of Transportation establishing a fair market value of $7,200 for the Cherry Hill Community Center property on Cookeville Highway.
County Mayor Tim Stribling briefed the county commission on the matter Thursday night during an all committees meeting at the courthouse. The issue is expected to be discussed during the regular monthly meeting of the county commission Monday night, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the courthouse.
It will be up to the county commission whether or not to purchase the property. The county has until October 3 to send payment of $7,200 to TDOT .
The excess land committee of TDOT’s Right of Way Division met in January and granted approval for the sale of the land clearing the way for the county’s outright ownership of the property.
Although the state deeded the 0.24 acre site to DeKalb County in August, 1981, a restriction currently requires the county to use the property for public purposes. After taking control of the site in the 1980’s the county constructed the Cherry Hill Community Center there. In recent years community interest in the center has waned and the building is now in need of repairs. Members of the county commission have expressed an interest in either disposing of the property or leasing it.
In order to have the “public use” deed restriction removed and for the county to assume total control of the property, the county commission several months ago authorized County Mayor Stribling to file with the Tennessee Department of Transportation an application for “Conveyance of Interest of Surplus TDOT Right of Way”.
County Mayor Stribling explained that through this process the county requested the state to ascertain the fair market value of the property should the county decide to purchase it.
“The committee has determined that the public use restriction can be released if fair market value is paid by the county. After all necessary approvals have been obtained you will be issued and executed a release of all restrictions,” according to a letter to the county from TDOT’s Right of Way Division.
“If we do buy the property at fair market value then that restriction for public use will be removed from the deed,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The county is not required to buy the property from the state.
In other business Monday night, the county commission agenda is as follows:
*Local option sales tax report to be given
*Action taken on budget amendments
*Annual financial reports to be spread on the minutes
*Discuss payment of fair market value for state owned real property at the Cherry Hill Community Center
*Discuss a phone system upgrade for the ambulance service and contract with DTC
*Discuss Jones Lane
*2018 Fiscal Year budget approval letter from the state
*Discuss library board appointment
*Approval of notaries
*Any other business properly presented.
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