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Scurry County declines purchase of 3400 College Avenue after public opposition and repair estimates
Summary
After extensive public comment and a review of inspection and repair costs, the court voted not to purchase a downtown building proposed for county election services and offices.
The Scurry County Commissioners Court decided not to purchase a downtown commercial property that had been proposed for the county's elections and administrative use, after hearing public opposition and reviewing inspection-based repair estimates.
County staff presented the building price and an itemized list of likely upfront and repair costs during the meeting. The seller's asking price was reported as $520,000. Staff later summarized additional expected immediate costs — termite treatment ($1,330), estimated termite repairs ($2,500–$5,000), minor electrical corrections, a potential structural slab inspection (cost unspecified; transcript noted repairs could be additional), and building modifications such as a drive-up transaction window and interior adjustments. Putting together purchase and the listed work produced a staff estimate of approximately $574,160 total. Staff also said monthly operating costs (utilities, heating and cooling) would require further analysis.
Residents who spoke at the public-comment portion urged the court not to make the purchase. Sue Stroud, a resident, and several others said they preferred county infrastructure and road maintenance be prioritized. Multiple speakers raised concerns about using payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) funds — money the county receives from tax abatements on wind, solar and battery projects — and said those payments should be treated cautiously because they are derived from negotiated abatements. One longtime resident said the county's population trend and operating costs did not justify buying additional property.
After public comment and staff discussion, a court member made a motion recorded in the transcript as “that we do not purchase the property on 3495” (the agenda item referenced the property as Building 3400 College Avenue; the transcript records both numbers). The motion was seconded and the court moved on without recording a roll-call tally in the transcript; the court treated the matter as decided not to move forward with the purchase.
The transcript shows the court intends to preserve a record of citizen input and to continue evaluating county property needs; staff said other county-owned properties and options remain under consideration.
