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Morgan County Council approves rainy-day appropriation to buy Reporter Times building
Summary
The Morgan County Council approved moving forward with a Rainy Day Fund appropriation to exercise a pre‑COVID purchase option on the Reporter Times building, with commissioners citing long‑term space needs for the health department and other county services.
The Morgan County Council on Aug. 4 approved using Rainy Day funds to exercise a pre‑COVID option to buy the Reporter Times building and control space for future county services. The motion, made by Council member Vicki Kivett and seconded by Kim Meredith, passed 6‑0.
County staff member Josh told the council the county negotiated a fixed purchase option before the COVID‑19 pandemic and that the price discussed in the meeting was “just shy of $1,500,000” for the building. He said buying the property would let the county avoid ongoing rent costs and position county services for future space needs.
The council’s discussion focused on timing and cash flow. Josh said the county would use Rainy Day funds now to secure the property while later phases of the courthouse and other projects proceed. He told the council, “we have the Reporter Times Building…we have the ability to purchase this at a set price.”
Several council members said they supported ownership to avoid losing space or paying higher rent later. One member raised concern about approving a large expenditure so close to budget workshops, saying it made them “a little nervous talking about spending 1 and a half million dollars when we’re doing budgets in 2 weeks,” and asked whether the Rainy Day balance could cover the purchase. Josh and other members reviewed the Rainy Day fund during the discussion; staff said the fund had grown substantially and that the appropriation was consistent with the county’s long‑term space plan.
Formal action recorded in the minutes was an approval of “this appropriation from Rainy Day as outlined on our agenda”; the motion passed unanimously.
The council also discussed how owning the building could allow the county to relocate the health clinic now leased elsewhere and to charge partner agencies for space when appropriate. Josh said the health department and a clinic shared with the city could be housed there rather than remaining in leased space.
No ordinance numbers, statutes, or other legal citations were read into the record during the discussion. The council did not specify an exact closing date during the public discussion; staff said closing would proceed as negotiations and closing requirements are completed.
The council’s approval moves the county into the next steps of closing and planning adaptation of the Reporter Times building into county space while continuing the courthouse build‑out.
