Mount Juliet officials weigh roughly $800,000 gap to convert old police building into senior center

Senior center representatives asked the Mount Juliet Board of Commissioners during a workshop to consider covering about $800,000 of renovation costs so the city can convert the former police building into a new senior center.

Jeff Rowlett, senior citizen center board member, told the commission the project team has a preliminary cost estimate of $1,857,000 and an offer to buy the senior center’s current property for $1,100,000 ‘‘net to us approximately a million one,’’ leaving roughly $800,000 the group would seek from the city.

The request matters because the police department’s planned move to a new building sets a timetable: the project team is working from an October vacancy date for the police department and a six‑month demolition and build‑out estimate from a contractor, which would mean a target move‑in in spring 2026 if the schedule holds.

At the workshop, Rocky (no last name provided), who spoke for the project team, said the group has hired an architect and will soon issue a bid packet to get hard contractor prices. ‘‘We finally came up with a drawing that we all agree upon,’’ Rocky said, describing a flex building owned and maintained by the city with daytime use for seniors and evening and weekend use for parks programming.

Rocky and Rowlett said the senior center would use sale proceeds from its existing facility and continue fundraising to cover furnishings and moving costs; Rowlett said the group proposes leasing the renovated building from the city for $1 per year under a long‑term term arrangement discussed as a 25‑plus‑25 year term during the meeting.

Mark Heinzley, a chamber professional who spoke during public comment, praised the plan and urged commissioners to support a permanent facility for seniors: ‘‘If that’s pretty good, then you know you’re going to a good place,’’ he said, thanking officials for ‘‘giving us a chance to present tonight.’’

Commissioners and staff discussed funding options. Rocky suggested using hotel‑motel (lodging) tax revenue as a one‑time source to cover the roughly $800,000 shortfall; a commissioner noted that the hotel‑motel fund balance is ‘‘right at 0’’ but could build back up. City staff also said other city‑owned parcels under discussion, including commercial parcels and a five‑acre parcel in McFarland, could be sold to help bridge the gap.

City staff outlined next steps the commission could take before any formal commitment: complete the architect’s bid packet (an architect estimated it would be ready in about 30 days), run a formal bid process to get firm contractor prices, draft a formal agreement between the city and the senior center, and include any city contribution in the fiscal year budget process. A staff member noted the city legally needs a budget in place by July 1 and described the budget schedule of workshops and two readings in May and June.

No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the workshop. City staff said the senior center’s real estate contract with the buyer (a Church of Christ congregation) is currently contingent on an agreement with the city, and the closing date has been pushed to October to allow time for decisions. The project team and staff agreed to begin drafting a formal agreement and to run the bid process so the commission will have hard numbers before any ordinance or budget amendment is proposed.

Officials also asked for operating cost estimates and projected recurring expenses for the renovated building; staff said they would provide an operations budget and a timeline for the police department’s move so the parties can set firm possession and lease dates.

The workshop closed without objection after the commission indicated willingness to consider the request during the budget process and staff agreed to prepare bid documents and draft agreements for further review.