Site bought for new Claxton school
The Anderson County Commission has voted unanimously to approve a sales agreement to buy land from Crossroads Christ Fellowship Church for a future Claxton Elementary School.
The agreement lists the purchase price as $3 million for the property, which is at 105 Fellowship Lane in Powell.
The County Commission approved the deal at two meetings, a special-called meeting Thursday, June 22, and the Monday, July 17, regular meeting. The sales agreement is available to read in the special-called meeting’s agenda posted online.
The county has not closed on the sale yet. Anderson County Schools Director of Schools Tim Parrott said in an email that the school system is still waiting on some surveys of the property.
The county will close on the sale Aug. 31 if all the necessary steps are finished by then.
Commissioner Tracy Wandell made the motion and Commissioner Tyler Mayes seconded to approve the sales agreement at the July 17 meeting. Both represent the First District, which includes the Claxton community the school will serve.
Parrott in the past has listed several problems with the current Claxton school, including its older plumbing and electrical systems.
Another issue involves the site’s multiple buildings, which he said are more difficult to secure.
Parrott has said he plans to work with the Tennessee Valley Authority on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) facilities for the future school.
The commission also unanimously approved several other items the Purchasing Committee brought to it at the July 17 meeting.
The commissioners approved paying for training for four Anderson County Emergency Medical Services employees with a tuition of $2,300 for each of them. They agreed to pay for a $179.95 per month contract for two years for Norris Library’s internet service.
They unanimously authorized a $1.885 million grant from the Tennessee Violent Crime Intervention Fund.
The grant will pay for some new law-enforcement equipment and a “Crime Analysis Unit,” which will analyze statistics to figure out the “people, places patterns and problems” on which law enforcement should focus related to violent crimes in Anderson County.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office plans to lead in this project, but will work with police departments of cities inside the county, and the 7th Judicial Crime Task Force. Some of those other agencies will get equipment, too.
More details on the county’s plans for the grant are in the Purchasing Committee’s July agenda on the county website.