The county courthouse in Ducktown and the swimming pool at the Copper Basin Community Center both drew attention from Polk County commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday, November 18, in Benton.
District 3 Commissioner Samantha Trantham raised concern about fixing the Ducktown courthouse, which is now used only for court since the sheriff’s office dispatch moved into the new facility on Highway 68.
Trantham brought up the building’s leaking roof and said in general it is “in pretty bad shape.”
She said the county should look at making needed repairs with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) money.
County Executive Robby Hatcher suggested another way to repair or even replace the aging facility.
He reminded commissioners that former General Sessions Judge Billy Baliles gave the county 30 acres of land, desiring that it be sold and the money used to repair or replace the courthouse.
However, under Tennessee law, the county could not sell the land through a real estate agent, but would have to sell it through the auction process. When the possibility was discussed, the commissioners agreed this would not be a good financial move.
Now, however, Hatcher said the county could let the Industrial Development Board (IDB) sell the land and the money be returned to the county. He suggested the 30 acres, which has been surveyed as a whole, be divided into smaller, five-acre tracts for an IDB sale. This, he believes, will bring in more money than selling the 30 acres as a whole.
Commission Chairman Greg Brooks scheduled a building committee meeting at the Ducktown courthouse to evaluate the problems and work on a course of action.
Brooks also questioned Hatcher about progress to repair or replace the swimming pool at the Copper Basin Community Center.
Hatcher said requests for proposals had been published and some interest has been shown by contractors wanting to do the work.
Director of Accounts and Budgets Catrice Lowe told commissioners she had received two telephone calls that day from people interested in doing the work.