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City offers old armory for senior center at $1-per-year

It may be worth looking at.

Clinton City Mayor Scott Burton asked City Council Monday night to authorize Clinton City Manager Roger Houck to work out an “understanding” with Anderson County government and Anderson County Office on Aging for using the old Armory Building at the Fair Grounds as a potential site for a senior citizens center.

Burton said the building, which currently houses the Roane State Community College (RSCC) Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), will be available once RSCC completes construction of its new facility at Anderson Crossing.

That project, Burton said, is expected to be completed in about a year.

“I’d like to offer the Armory for $1 a year to the county for use as a senior center,” Burton told council.

Burton said the building is in good shape, is centrally located in Clinton, offers ample parking, and is next door to Jaycee Park.

He added the county could “take the rent being paid on their building now and use that for more programs.”

The county pays $1,500 a month to rent for its Edgewood Avenue building.

While the building is in “good shape,” Burton said the county and Office on Aging might want to update the kitchen and bathrooms and could probably do that for as little as $100,000.

Also, as per a contract with the Anderson County Fair Association, the building would not be available during July, when the Anderson County Fair is held.

The contract with the Anderson County Fair Association dates back to the 1930’s.

“During July schools are out,” Burton said. He added senior center activities could be moved to a school gymnasium during that month.

The City of Clinton had a similar understanding with the county when the old Armory building was used by the Anderson County School System as the home of the county’s alternative school.