County agrees to purchase furnishings at 205 Main
In a 15 - 0 vote, Monday, May 15, during Anderson County Commission’s monthly meeting, commissioners approved including an additional $15,000 in a purchase agreement they approved last month to buy local businessman Michael Farley’s building and property on 205 North Main Street for $600,000.
Farley used the facility as an events center and county officials are considering continuing using the building as an events center as an additional way to generate revenue for the senior center.
According to county officials, Farley has already scheduled at least $18,000 in events booked through September at the location, and he is agreeing to turn this event money over to the senior center as part of the sales contract that has recently been drawn up between him and the county for the building’s purchase.
In recent meetings with Farley, county officials explained that he has also agreed to sell equipment and furniture necessary to host such events, items like high quality audio-visual equipment, chairs, tables, game tables, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, and Christmas decorations, to the county for $15,000. Officials deem it a bargain price.
“That equipment is needed to make this facility work,” said Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager, who is one of the officials involved in the purchase negotiations for this project.
If purchased brand-new, the items would cost the county approximately $35,000 - $37,000, he said.
Yeager apprised commissioners that the $18,000 in event money that Farley already booked and offered to give to the center to use as revenue will make it possible for the senior center to “be able to more than get that money back for booking that center.”
“It’s a good deal. We couldn’t replace it and it’s going to be needed if we do the events. It can be paid for by the money we receive from doing the events,” said Commissioner Robert McKamey (Dist. 5).
Commissioner Steve Mead (Dist. 6) made the motion to include the $15,000 for equipment and furniture in the original purchase deal the county made with Farley, increasing the purchase price to $615,000.