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Committee authorizes 180‑day due diligence extension and publication step on Columbia Avenue property for potential judicial center
Summary
The county approved a second amendment to a Columbia Avenue purchase agreement extending due diligence by 180 days and reallocating earnest money (reducing refundable deposit to $75,000 and paying $175,000 to owner for the extension); staff said publication and bond notice will start the statutory petition period.
The Williamson County Budget Committee on May 4 authorized a second amendment to the purchase and sale agreement for property on Columbia Avenue to extend the due diligence period and preserve the county’s option to pursue a new judicial center.
County real‑estate counsel explained the amendment reduces the original $250,000 earnest money so that $175,000 is paid to the owner for the 180‑day extension and a $75,000 deposit remains. "175,000 of the original 250,000 will be deducted, leaving a deposit of 75,000. The $1.75 will go to the owner, in exchange for the extension," the attorney explained. (Transcript contains a typographical rendering of the figure as 'The $1.75'; staff clarified the meaning as $175,000 paid for the extension.)
Committee members discussed whether to defer further action while the judicial task force completes work or to publish the notice necessary to start the clock for petitions and future bond issuance. The chair argued publication preserves the county’s ability to move quickly if the commission later votes to proceed; multiple members agreed and the committee approved the amendment and related publication step unanimously.
Staff noted that publication of the notice starts the statutory petition period and does not itself authorize bond issuance or require the county to proceed with purchase. The item will return to the full commission for final action as required by county process.
