Papers Signed to Approve Courthouse Annex at Old Bank Building Downtown
Fayette County Commissioners officially approved the contract to purchase the old Pioneer Bank building at a special meeting Monday morning, Feb. 1. Commissioners signed the paperwork following a tour of the building.
The contract price is set at $375,000. The building was recently listed for $499,000. The County will take ownership of the building following a 60-day closing period, pending any unforeseen circumstances.
The County plans to use the building as a courthouse annex, housing the Fayette County Tax Assessor-Collector and the County Auditor offices.
County Judge Joe Weber said an inspector hired by the County looked over the building last week and found no major problems. There are a few stains in ceiling tiles and a bucket upstairs to collect water. Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said the bucket was dry, indicating that the leak is not too severe.
“We don’t know if (the leaks) have already been fixed, but I don’t think we’ll know until we get a good rain,” Weber said. “Those can be fixed, flashing and stuff like that.”
Weber said the County could pay cash for the property, but he said he and the Commissioners may consider borrowing money through a certificate of obligation (CO).
“I think we might do a CO and roll in a little more money for some of the fix-ups we’re going to have to do,” Weber said. “My goal is to do it with a lot of local contractors.”
The purchase would take a valuable piece of property off the tax rolls, since the County does not pay property taxes. Accordingly, the City of La Grange and La Grange I.S.D. will have to go without some property tax revenue they would have collected if the building sold to private owners.
On the other hand, the County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office primarily handles vehicle registrations and titles, which draws hundreds of people to the courthouse square every week. The property also includes ample parking behind the building. Weber said County employees would begin using that parking lot to free up parking around the Square.
“Its not on the tax rolls, but it still keeps a lot of people coming into the City and the Square,” Weber said. “We can park our employees in the back so it doesn’t take up space on the Square. It will keep things on the Square lively.”