Fiscal Court approves conveyance of former fire station to Simpson County Extension Office, requires replacement storage

Simpson County Fiscal Court voted Dec. 3 to convey the former fire station at 105 E. Washington Street to the Simpson County Extension Office on or before Jan. 1, 2027, provided the county builds replacement storage for Fire Department equipment and provides a location for the Facility Maintenance Department prior to turnover.

At the Simpson County Historic Courthouse meeting, Judge/Executive Mason Barnes introduced Jason Phillips of the Simpson County Extension Office, who reviewed a longstanding right-of-first-refusal agreement (extended in 2021) that gives the Extension Office the first option to acquire the downtown property if the county moves to sell. Phillips said the Extension District Board voted unanimously in October to ask the court to exercise that right and pursue ownership to expand the office’s downtown presence.

Jason Phillips described planned renovations to convert the former station into a community meeting facility with banquet-style seating for at least 150 people, access to a kitchen area, restrooms and upgraded technology for meetings and training. He also told the court the Extension Office has acquired a non-buildable lot behind the local State Farm Insurance office to provide additional parking.

Fire Chief Leslie Goodrum told the court that much of the Fire Department’s still-in-use equipment is stored at the former station and said the department needs a concrete plan to relocate that equipment before the county conveys the building. In response, the fiscal court recorded that it will have a plan for equipment relocation before Jan. 1, 2027 and approved the conveyance motion with the storage requirement.

Magistrate Marty Chandler moved to approve conveying the property; Scott Poston seconded. The minutes record the vote as Yes — all present members. The motion text approved conveying 105 E. Washington Street to the Simpson County Extension Office on or before Jan. 1, 2027, allowing the county time to build sufficient storage for the Fire Department and to provide a location for the Facility Maintenance Department.

The action preserves the Extension Office’s central downtown location while the court committed to address operational needs of the Fire Department before transfer. The court did not specify construction timelines beyond the Jan. 1, 2027 conveyance deadline; officials said they will return with a plan and schedule.