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Drug court lease ends Jan. 31; Vigo County considers buying nearby HWC building with opioid funds
Summary
The county reported a $35,000 rent appropriation for drug court and said one lease runs month-to-month while the other expires Jan. 31. Staff said they are pursuing appraisals to buy a nearby HWC Engineering building and may request opioid funds to purchase the property before the lease deadline.
County staff told the Vigo County budget committee that the drug court’s current leased space includes two separate leases for different spaces in the same building, one of which is month-to-month and the other that expires on Jan. 31.
Budget staff said the county has already appropriated $35,000 for drug court rent in next year’s budget and that commissioners are seeking a permanent location. Staff reported they are in the appraisal process for a nearby building owned by HWC Engineering and would like to present a purchase request to the council next month, potentially using opioid funds.
A staff member said the county’s purchasing rules require the county not pay more than the average of two appraisals; meeting notes show two appraisers were identified (Larry Bonner and Newland Johnson) and that the second appraisal was expected back during the discussion. Staff also cautioned that publicly discussing details had previously led to outside buyers acquiring buildings under discussion.
County staff said they would give the current landlord the required 60-day notice to vacate if the council completes a purchase or otherwise decides to move. Staff noted accessibility concerns about the current leased space and said they were checking whether county-owned vacant space could be used for drug court at no cost.
No final decision or appropriation to purchase was taken during the meeting; staff said they expect to return with appraisals and a formal request to the council before the lease renewal window expires.
Ending: Staff said they will supply appraisal results and a formal purchase request to the council in the coming weeks and will coordinate the 60-day notice timeline if council approval to buy or relocate is obtained.
