By Shannon McFarlin News Directors
Paris, Tenn.–The Henry County Buildings and Grounds Committee is still grappling with the best, safest and least expensive way to handle the issue of the aging government buildings and after much discussion, came up with two options that will be presented to the full commission.
One option would involve remodeling the county-owned TRC (Tennessee Rehabilitation Center) building at 1108 Tyson Ave. and the other option would entail remodeling the TRC building and while also building new.
Committee Chairman Marty Visser said, “Whatever we do, I’d like to see us do it in all one swoop. I don’t want to have to come back and have to shuffle people around again.”
County officials are especially concerned with the courthouse annex building, which an engineering report has deemed unsafe. Offices in the building—juvenile court, assessor’s office, register of deeds and trustee’s office—need to find a new home as soon as possible. Other problem areas are Weston Hall, which houses the Election Commission and County Archives; and the courthouse itself, which also needs upgrading.
“It’s a big decision we have to make but I don’t want the county to be right back where we are 30 or 40 years down the road,” Visser said.
Committee members were divided between building new and utilizing what county-owned spaces there are available now.
During discussion last evening, the committee discussed selling the current health department building, which was built to be a medical site and is located just a block away from the West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County Hospital and Bethel facilities. A new health department is being built, thanks to the award of a grant, and will be located behind the hospital and should be ready in a couple of years.
It was earlier discussed that other county offices could be moved into the current health department building when it is vacated, but commissioners decided it may be better to sell the property and use the money for other needed building upgrades.
Commissioner David “Tater” Hayes was a strong advocate for all new construction. “Why don’t we just build a new building and put everything in that building? If we need storage, we can use the TRC building. But maybe if we set it up properly, we can maintain it and our grandkids and great-grandkids won’t have to sit here and do what we’re doing now.”
Another Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting was set for 5 p.m. November 18 at the courthouse, at which time the committee will nail down the options to be presented to the full commission and further discuss possible utilization of a wheel tax for improvements.
One of the next projects that will be tackled by the committee involves renovation of the clock and bell tower on the courthouse. Visser said the county has been awarded the $500,000 grant but still must determine the scope of the project before the grant is given.
County Maintenance Supervisor John McElroy said previously the Renaissance firm estimates $2M for the project, and is still receiving estimates from other firms. Committee member Pam Martin (who also is Register of Deeds) had asked whether it was possible to place the bell on the courthouse lawn instead of putting the bell back in the tower and committee members said that would be a possibility.
Visser said after the meeting that Clerk and Master Albert Wade is still working on a $200,000 grant proposal for the courthouse renovation. Previously, the committee has discussed placing all court-related offices in the courthouse.