Putnam County to consider transfer of Greencastle freight depot and options to boost parks budget

The Putnam County Board of Commissioners agreed April 6 to pursue a possible transfer of an old freight depot building from the City of Greencastle to the County Parks Board and asked attorneys to prepare transfer resolutions if the property qualifies.

Will Bartlett told commissioners the building — with land owned by the city and the structure currently under the Putnam County Visitors Bureau — would be used as the parks board office and that "there would be no cost to the county" for the transfer. Bartlett said the parks board already owns adjacent land and would maintain the property and building, while the city would retain ownership of the nearby trail.

Bartlett also outlined the parks board’s longer-term funding goal: it currently operates on about $50,000 annually from partnerships and seeks to expand to roughly $200,000 a year for land acquisition, improvements, and staffing. He asked the board to research funding options including a property tax rate, a local option income tax, and an innkeeper's tax. Director Jared Jernagan told commissioners a 3% innkeeper's tax could be sufficient to generate the revenue Bartlett is seeking.

Commissioner Rick Woodall moved that the county accept the property if it qualifies and direct city and county attorneys to draft transfer resolutions; President Andy Beck seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Commissioners asked Bartlett to return with further research on funding mechanisms and anticipated costs.