Clay County supervisors will advertise notice of intent to issue general obligation notes that would fund additional parking spaces near the courthouse and a voting precinct in District 5.
Supervisors unanimously passed a motion to do so during their meeting Thursday. The plan is to issue a $230,000 note over five years to finance the two projects. Half of that amount would be used to purchase and clear two parcels on Broad Street, one of which formerly was the location of Calvert Funeral Home, and pave a new lot behind the courthouse. The other half would be used to buy property where an old West Point School District bus station was on Brame Avenue and construct a voting precinct. District 1 Supervisor Lynn Horton said the county has rented Central School’s gymnasium from the district but needs a building specifically for voting purposes. Congestion during circuit court terms also provides parking issues at the courthouse currently, he said.
“When court is in session, all the employees that work at the courthouse and in Community Counseling have a hard time trying to find places to park,” Horton said.
Once the board goes forward with its plans, bids will be solicited from banks to finance the note. The county will then set up a debt service fund and levy ad valorem taxes to retire the debt.
County Chancery Clerk Amy Berry said once two other general obligation notes already issued are paid off next year, the note that would be issued for this project would be the only one left. District 5 Supervisor Floyd McKee, who was absent from the meeting, would have the option to solicit bids from contractors or use county labor to build the new precinct.
Berry estimated 40-50 extra courthouse parking places would be provided once the project is complete.
“Hopefully this will benefit not just the courthouse, but the community,” she said.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.