Committee forwards resolution to buy Ashley parcels for industrial park expansion

The Franklin County Legislative Committee voted July 6 to forward to the full county commission a resolution authorizing Franklin County to purchase two tracts adjoining the Franklin County Industrial Park owned by Ellis W. Ashley.

The resolution lists a total purchase price of $149,350.00, which the text says includes a three percent commission to Winton Auction & Realty Co. It states the purchase price will be paid from funds received from previously authorized sales of county land to CJBBB, Inc. and GT Rentals, LLC. The resolution requires the property to be surveyed and for a title opinion showing good and clear title to be obtained before the transaction closes.

The motion to forward the resolution was made by Eddie Clark and seconded by Chuck Stines; the committee recorded the vote as "all ayes." The resolution text identifies Clark and Stines as sponsors.

The record includes detailed exhibits with legal descriptions and chain-of-title information for the parcels. Exhibit A describes a larger tract (listed in the exhibit text as 6.77 acres, per the attached survey); Exhibit B describes a smaller tract (2.39 acres, per its survey) and references recorded easements. The packet also contains a trustee's deed from 2010 showing that an Ellis Woody Ashley purchased one parcel at auction for $63,460.00, a fact included in the submitted documents.

Next steps specified in the resolution are a survey and a title opinion; the action forwarded by the committee is not final county approval but a recommendation to the full commission for consideration and any further action.