Senior center progress?
Commission approves $300K to offer for property
It’s a mystery inside a riddle wrapped around an enigma.
Or something like that.
While a site has been scouted for a possible new Anderson County Senior Citizens Center, the location is being kept close to the vest — though Anderson County’s commissioners are aware of the property.
Monday night the body passed a resolution to allow Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank to offer $300,000 for the property.
And that’s what it is: An offer.
A testing of waters.
Or, as the mayor put it, “It’s a pie in the sky” proposition.
That is the big plus for the site — it is said to be worth at least twice that much.
Maybe even three times as much.
There are drawbacks though. Not all commissioners are on board for starting the process of looking at a new site — not while 205 Main Street is still county property.
Third District Commissioner Denver Waddell said he was wary about any property after what happened with the 205 Main Street property.
“Commission was told that was perfect,” Waddell said of the purchase of 205 Main.
District Six Commissioner Catherine Denenberg said she did not want to pursue the property because the City of Clinton will be offering the old Armory — and current Roane State Community College facility — for use after it moves in with a new Tennessee College of Applied Technology facility in the I-75 Industrial Park. A ground breaking ceremony will be held this Friday for that facility.
Denenberg also pointed out she had concerns because a business plan hadn’t been submitted for the new center, and she was concerned that the larger building would require more expense as far as upkeep and utilities.
First District Commissioner Chuck Fritts said the un-named new facility would “exclude” seniors from District One because it would be too far to away.
District Four Commissioner Tim Isbel pointed out the current location of the senior center excludes his constituents — in north Anderson County.
The motion did, however, pass.
Mayor Frank told the commission that an offer was just a way of getting the ball rolling.
The owners of the property, she said, as keen to work with the county and be charitable in their leanings, but there were a lot of conditions that had to be met.
The $300,000 offer is more of a way of showing the county is interested in the property.
As for 205 Main, the bidding process is in the works.
Commission learned bids will be opened Apil 2, 2019; there are at least “walk-throughs” scheduled for the property; and any and all avenues for receiving bids are being sought.
