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Lee County approves financing to buy, renovate former Coca‑Cola building for public‑safety warehouse
Summary
The board approved a resolution authorizing financing up to $7.8 million to purchase and improve the former Coca‑Cola building for county use as a public‑safety warehouse and office space; staff estimated renovations at $1.8–$2.1 million versus an $18 million new build, and the board also approved temporary ARPA funding for a reentry coordinator position through June 2026.
Lee County commissioners voted Oct. 6 to authorize financing — not to exceed $7.8 million — to purchase and improve the former Coca‑Cola building for county public‑safety storage and related offices.
Staff presented background on the project and said purchasing the existing facility would provide immediate storage capacity (an existing building of roughly 38,000 square feet) and an office wing of about 8,600 square feet, plus 8.6 acres for future expansion. Brandon Key, who presented the project, said renovation estimates to make the building suitable for county use were approximately $1.8 million to $2.1 million. By comparison, staff said building a new 45,000‑square‑foot facility would cost about $18 million. The renovation plan would preserve the county’s flexibility and provide secured storage and a small public lobby for veteran services and other functions.
At the meeting county finance staff presented three bond documents — the final resolution, a bond‑purchase agreement and a supplemental trust agreement — and asked the board to approve execution of the financing documents and accept findings needed to request Local Government Commission approval. Commissioner Sharp moved the resolution; the board approved it on a voice vote. Staff recorded no roll‑call tally in the transcript; one commissioner voiced opposition during the ayes/noes call but no formal dissenting roll call was included in the meeting record.
During the discussion commissioners asked how renovation costs were estimated, whether proceeds from any future sale of the old library could be directed to the project and about lead times for electrical and HVAC work; staff answered that library‑sale proceeds could be applied later to pay down debt and noted 12‑month lead times for some electrical panels and HVAC components.
Separately, in new business the board approved continuing a reentry‑coordinator position through June 30, 2026 and authorized using up to $54,748 in ARPA revenue‑loss funds to maintain the position if the state grant is not reinstated. Staff said the state had not adopted a budget and the award that was expected to fund the position was canceled.
The Coca‑Cola building financing resolution authorizes staff to execute documents in connection with the purchase and improvement; the purchase still requires completion of financing steps and Local Government Commission approval before closing.
