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Knox County approves $142,500 property purchase and land-bank addendum to advance transit warehouse plan
Summary
The board approved a $142,500 purchase of a parcel from Thomas Hawkes and an addendum with the county land bank that returns three vacant parcels and secures $360,000 in credits toward a planned $1.1 million warehouse purchase; the board also approved a $74,250 design contract for the transit warehouse.
The Knox County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 12 to buy a parcel from Thomas Hawkes for $142,500 and to execute an addendum with the county land bank that will free three vacant transit parcels back to the land bank while securing $360,000 in credits toward the county's planned warehouse purchase.
Committee member who presented the package told commissioners the county has been searching for a site for the water/wastewater administrative office and related functions and identified the Hawkes parcel as suitable. The board authorized the county administrator to execute all documents necessary to complete the Hawkes transaction.
Separately, commissioners approved addendum No. 1 with the Knox County Land Reutilization/Realization Corporation (described in the record as the land bank) affecting parcels at 601 West Chestnut, 7 Norton and 501 West High. The board said the county will purchase a warehouse for $1,100,000 and that the land bank will hold $360,000 in credits in escrow for the county; the parties agreed the effective purchase price for county accounting would be $740,000 when the credits are applied. Commissioners said the credits will be held in escrow until the warehouse closing, expected in late September or early October.
To support design for the transit warehouse facility, the board approved a $74,250 contract with Side Street Studios for design documentation services, including coordination of engineering work (HVAC and electrical). The board stated the amount was below the formal competitive-bid threshold and selected the designer based on prior experience with the vendor.
The motions were approved by voice vote. County staff said the purchase of the Hawkes parcel will be funded from the county general fund, while future building costs for water/wastewater administrative functions would come from water/wastewater funds.
Next steps: the county administrator will execute closing documents on the Hawkes purchase; the land bank credits will be held in escrow and applied at warehouse closing; design work will proceed under the Side Street Studios contract.
