Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Real Estate Acquisition Courthouse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves purchase of former U.S. Bank building for courthouse expansion
Summary
St. Francois County commissioners approved purchase of a U.S. Bank property to create courtroom, chambers and sheriff administration space; commissioners said the purchase will be funded with marijuana tax revenue and general stabilization funds and will generate rental income under a lease with the bank.
St. Francois County commissioners voted to purchase two buildings formerly owned by U.S. Bank to gain space for courts and sheriff operations and to provide near-term rental income.
Harold, speaking for county leadership, described the property as about 1.33 acres with two buildings and 42 parking spaces located across Washington Street from the county annex. He said the county is “under contract to purchase the U.S. Bank building and a drive-through facility” and gave a purchase price on the record of $1,515,000.
The county expects bank rental income of about $69,000 per year, with a 22% annual escalator in the bank’s rental charge as described by Harold in the meeting. Under the plan related in public remarks, the bank would rent roughly half of the first floor plus basement space and the drive-through while the county would convert the remainder for sheriff administration and — in the future — additional courtrooms and offices.
Harold described planned interior work including building a divider wall on the ground floor, preserving sprinklers, lighting and HVAC, and possibly scheduling disruptive construction for night shifts so the bank’s business is not interrupted.
Commissioners discussed funding sources for the purchase. Harold said the county intends to use marijuana tax funds and some of the general stabilization fund and that there would be “no debt incurred” at the time of the transaction. Commissioners noted the county’s revenue exposure if state changes reduce local income sources such as food tax collections, and they requested staff analysis of maintenance, utility and staffing needs tied to the additional building space.
Commissioners asked several questions on the record: whether banks approached the county (Harold said the county had pursued the property for roughly two years before it was listed and then offered the asking price), the sufficiency of parking (Harold and staff described 42 spaces including rear parking but noted some spaces are avoided by employees because of overnight homeless activity), prospective closing timing (Harold said closing was “to be determined” and that the seller’s process had already taken several months), and potential loss of real estate tax revenue (no estimate provided on the record).
A motion to approve the purchase — introduced during the amended agenda discussion and moved on the record as “we approve the purchase of U.S. Bank Properties at the cost of $1,515,000 plus share/closing costs” — was seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners responded “Aye.”
Commissioners and staff flagged follow-up items: finalizing the lease with the bank, a necessary architect and construction design for the divider and interior modifications, a projected maintenance and utilities estimate for upcoming budget planning, and possible future uses of the drive-through building once the bank’s lease expires.
No environmental review, final maintenance cost estimate, or exact closing date was supplied during the meeting. Harold and others said more detailed budgeting and staff assignments will be prepared during the county’s upcoming budget process.
