Nottoway board accepts $240,000 offer for Fort Pickett officers’ club; 183‑acre sale remains under review

Nottoway County supervisors voted to accept an offer of $240,000 for the Officers Club parcel at 3951 Military Road, Blackstone, after a public hearing in which residents and former personnel urged the county to consider alternatives to outright sale.

The motion to accept the $240,000 bid for the approximately 3‑acre parcel passed after a motion and second from the board; the hearing record shows board members asked the county’s economic development committee (EDC) to review the larger disposition strategy for the LRA (Local Redevelopment Authority) property before moving forward on additional sales. A separate public hearing remains scheduled on a proposed sale of roughly 183 acres on Military Road at Darvalls Road.

Why it matters: County leaders and residents framed the sales as a tradeoff between immediate revenue and long‑term stewardship. The board majority said proceeds could be invested—along with planned solar revenues—to help finance an expensive courthouse project and reduce pressure on property taxpayers. Opponents cautioned that chronic deferred maintenance and the loss of community amenities would outweigh the one‑time receipts unless the county secures a plan to rehabilitate and market remaining LRA assets.

Public testimony and concerns Multiple residents described the Officers Club and other LRA buildings as community assets that have hosted proms, childcare and receptions. One longtime community member told the board: “I think you’re making a big mistake if you dispose of it,” saying the building had been used for local events and could be rehabilitated to serve local needs. Another speaker with hands‑on knowledge of LRA properties said basic maintenance had been neglected and that modest repairs could have avoided larger demolition costs.

Those who favored sale and transfer stressed fiscal realities. Supervisors noted the LRA has generated net losses in some years and argued that selling selected parcels and investing at current interest rates could generate interest income to service courthouse financing without an additional tax increase.

Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and REPI option Tom Yance, executive director of the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, told the board the foundation participates in the Department of Defense’s REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) program and can acquire land adjacent to military installations to protect mission compatibility. He said purchases do not require a separate conservation easement; the foundation commonly buys properties, protects them and may allow limited leases where the use supports Fort Pickett’s mission. Yance said the foundation has funds available to move relatively quickly on the 183‑acre parcel and discussed options including purchase, deed restriction, or conservation easement.

Military interest in the Officers Club Colonel Quinn of Fort Pickett spoke to the board and staff about potential military use of the Officers Club, saying the base could renovate the building for Morale, Welfare and Recreation purposes and maintain its historical character while providing community access. Quinn said such an arrangement would require further coordination but is a plausible path that could bring federal resources to rehabilitate the building.

Board action and next steps The board approved the motion to accept the $240,000 offer for 3951 Military Road. Supervisors also agreed to have the EDC and staff review the 183‑acre proposal, with a scheduled EDC discussion in January and a county work session planned in February to convene current occupants and stakeholders. The board did not finalize sale of the 183‑acre parcel at the meeting and said more analysis and public input would follow.

The record: The public hearing, citizen testimony, the Ward Burton presentation and Colonel Quinn’s comments were all part of the board’s discussion before the motion to accept the Officers Club offer. The transcript does not show a roll‑call vote tally for that motion; the board proceeded to administrative follow up and EDC engagement.