Marshall County commissioners authorize negotiating purchase of Bowen building with health department contribution

The Marshall County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 2 authorized the board president and the county attorney to negotiate a proposed purchase of the Bowen building and to present the proposal to the county council for approval.

Commissioners discussed a proposal in which the county would purchase the building for $450,000. Under the plan discussed at the meeting, Bowen Health (referred to in the meeting as the county health department partner) would put $250,000 down and provide an additional $100,000 toward renovations; the county would absorb the remaining $200,000 and the parties discussed structuring that county portion as $100,000 per year for two years with no interest, subject to negotiation between the county and Bowen Health’s attorney.

Health‑department representative Sandy (identified earlier in the meeting as a county staff member and described as having led facility tours and inspections) told commissioners the building has been inspected and that major systems work but the heating/cooling units are roughly 25 years old. "We're excited to be able to expand into a larger space so that we can expand services," Sandy said, adding that Health First Indiana funding positions the health department to start new programming but that long‑term funding would need future review.

The commissioners said the purchase would provide room for another department and could lower recurring operating costs compared with current leases. Meeting discussion cited two appraisals for the building — about $916,000 and $980,000 — and noted the proposed purchase price is less than half those appraisals.

Commissioners and the health‑department representative also discussed current rent: a speaker stated the health department's current rent is $36,000 and that it would increase to $104,000 next year if the department secured additional leased space. A member of the public, Dave Douglas, who identified himself as an owner of the community resource center, questioned the timing of public comment after the motion, saying, "I'm not sure that it really makes any difference now … what's the point of having public discussion?" The commissioners responded that transparency is important and proceeded.

A commissioner moved to empower the board president and county attorney to negotiate the purchase terms and to take the proposal to the county council; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The motion directs county leadership and legal counsel to work with Bowen Health’s attorney to draft formal terms for council consideration.

Why it matters: the recommended purchase would move the health department and possibly other county services into a larger county‑owned facility, change the county’s space and operating costs, and require council approval for funding and final purchase terms.