Coffee County and partner agencies approve agreements to enable sale of board office for LongHorn Steakhouse project

Coffee County commissioners and several local agencies approved a coordinated set of property and intergovernmental documents to allow the sale of the Coffee County Board of Education office for the proposed LongHorn Steakhouse project.

The Coffee County Board of Education approved an option to sell the board office to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) — including two option extensions — along with a warranty deed, a proposed sublease between LongHorn and the Board for use of the board office, a stormwater and drainage easement in favor of LongHorn, an intergovernmental agreement among local governments and a rental agreement between the Board and FNB South for property on South Madison. The School Board’s motion was approved by its members.

The Economic Development Authority then approved a Letter of Intent with LongHorn, accepted the School Board’s Option to Purchase, approved a Purchase and Sale Agreement (including two amendments), accepted a limited warranty deed from Jones Real Estate Management Company for part of the property (with an accompanying valuation letter), and approved a quitclaim (road) deed to the City of Douglas for property north of the board office. The EDA also approved a lease with PILOT provisions between the EDA and LongHorn, the stormwater and drainage easement, and the intergovernmental agreement.

On behalf of the City of Douglas, Mayor Tony Paulk asked the city council to approve the quitclaim deed, the stormwater and drainage easement, and the intergovernmental agreement; the City Council approved those items.

At the Coffee County Commissioners’ portion of the joint meeting, Chairman Jimmy Kitchens asked the board to approve executing all documents associated with the economic development project, specifically referencing an Intergovernmental Agreement dated Jan. 31, 2024. Vice-Chairman Johnny Wayne Jowers moved to approve the intergovernmental agreement; Commissioner AJ Dovers seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The package of approvals — spanning the School Board, the EDA, the City of Douglas and the County Commission — collectively clears local governmental approvals needed to transfer and convey property and related rights tied to the planned LongHorn Steakhouse project. The documents referenced in the meeting included an Option to Purchase, Warranty Deed(s), Purchase and Sale Agreement with amendments, a limited warranty deed from Jones Real Estate Management Company, quitclaim deed(s), lease agreement(s) with PILOT provisions, and a stormwater and drainage easement. The meeting minutes identify the intergovernmental agreement by date (Jan. 31, 2024) but do not include its full text or financial terms.

No individual sale price or final contract figures were stated in the meeting minutes. The joint agencies approved the legal and procedural instruments that would enable the property conveyance and subsequent lease arrangements for the restaurant project. The commission adjourned its portion of the meeting after completing the vote.