Commissioners direct next steps on potential Precinct 2 maintenance yard purchase in Quinlan area

Commissioner David Monroe presented a potential property purchase for Precinct 2 maintenance and storage needs during the Feb. 10 meeting and the court directed staff to pursue initial due diligence rather than take immediate purchase action.

Monroe described current operational problems at the existing barn site in Caddo — traffic conflicts with nearby schools, restrictions created by one-way service roads, and a long-running environmental cleanup — and said he had found a 5-acre former sandpit off FM 276 and County Road 2400 in the Quinlan area that already has water and electric access. Monroe told commissioners the owner quoted a price of $250,000 ("It's 5 acres... he'd take $250,000 for it"), and presented comparable sales data he had gathered.

County staff and commissioners discussed logistics, utilities, the existing environmental issue at the current barn site, and options for moving the maintenance barn structure to the new site to save construction costs. County staff said funds in the capital-improvement account could be used if the court pursues acquisition and that selling the current site after EPA clearance could offset costs.

The court did not vote to buy at this meeting. Instead, commissioners directed staff to prepare a purchase contract, obtain an appraisal and a new survey, and return with those items for formal consideration at a future meeting. Staff and the judge also noted county facilities and funding options available for the project.