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Sumner County reviews options for 139 E. Winchester; opioid funds discussed as match
Summary
County officials heard an informational presentation on 139 E. Winchester Street in Gallatin — called in the packet the “Children or People Building” — including potential sale, lease or demolition; the opioid abatement committee signaled it may consider a $100,000 match if state requirements are met. No formal county action was taken.
Sumner County officials discussed multiple options for the county-owned property at 139 E. Winchester Street in Gallatin — identified in materials as the “Children or People Building” — during a joint meeting of the opioid abatement committee and general operations on March 13.
County staff described a range of options for the property: sell the parcel (with or without improvements), subdivide the lot and transfer portions to partner organizations, lease the building, relocate county maintenance functions into the structure after upgrades, or demolish one or both structures and sell the land. County staff said the parcel was sold to Sumner County in 1988 for $10 and that prior tax records listed a total market-appraisal of $186,800; staff later said the comptroller’s website now shows a market value of about $500,000 and that they had not yet resolved the discrepancy.
The presentation outlined near-term funding options. Staff said the county expects to receive $709,633.29 from a state Round-3 payment under the opioid abatement program and that, as proposed in the packet, $100,000 of opioid funds could be offered as a local match to a purchaser that meets state requirements. The package also lists an additional $150,000 held for an accounting request and a separate $100,000 withheld for the Southern Prevention Coalition, per materials distributed to commissioners.
Why it matters: County officials and community partners framed the property as a possible permanent base for prevention and recovery services that could expand treatment access, house intensive outpatient programs and host family-reunification or training activities. Support letters from the City of Gallatin, the volunteer fire department and community organizations were included in the meeting packet.
Commissioners asked for more financial certainty before any transfer. Several members pressed for an updated appraisal or auction process, noting the December appraisal cited in the packet differs sharply from a newly reported comptroller value. Commissioners also discussed protections to prevent a future sale for profit: staff confirmed a reverter clause (returning title to the county if uses change) could be added to a deed but that such language would require formal drafting and review by GenOps and legal counsel.
Southern Prevention Coalition speakers described services the organization provides, including naloxone distribution, school-based prevention work, family reunification programs and drop-off prescription take-back events. Coalition representatives said ownership would improve their ability to win grants (some funders require property ownership) and to create program space for women with children; they also said they would perform ADA upgrades if awarded the property.
No formal transfer or vote took place. County staff and commissioners agreed the matter is informational at this meeting and directed staff to return with refined appraisals, clarified funding sources and a proposed contract or deed language (including any reverter clause) to subsequent committee meetings in April and then to GenOps and the full commission as needed.
Ending: Staff said they will follow both the 139 E. Winchester proposal and the Recovery Court renovation proposal through GenOps and opioid-committee review and return to the county commission with formal recommendations and any required draft documents.
