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Nelson County fiscal court approves lease buyout, courthouse change orders and marketing contract for surplus property
Summary
Judge Executive Tim Hutchkins said magistrates approved turning a telecom lease into a $200,000 lump‑sum buyout, using part of that money to cover $97,000 in courthouse change orders; the court also approved a county clerk budget amendment and awarded a contract to market the surplus old library.
Nelson County Judge Executive Tim Hutchkins told WBRT listeners the fiscal court approved several measures at its most recent meeting intended to address renovation overruns and to market surplus county property.
Hutchkins said the county had a lease with a telecommunications company for a tower at Culvertown Park that paid a recurring $800 monthly rent. APC Tire Company approached the county offering to buy out that lease in a one‑time payment; after negotiations APC offered $200,000 and "the magistrates approved that today," Hutchkins said on air.
Hutchkins said part of the one‑time payment will cover about $97,000 in change orders on the courthouse renovation (drywall, wiring, AV upgrades and termite repairs). "We're going to take part of that $200,000 and put into this courthouse so it won't cost taxpayers any additional money," he said.
The court also accepted a county clerk budget amendment. Hutchkins described excess fees being turned over to the fiscal court and said the clerk's projected turn‑over increased by about $37,000 above budgeted estimates, meaning the clerk will remit close to "half a million" across fee offices this year.
The fiscal court awarded a contract to J. Richard Hill & Company to market the county's surplus old library property. Hutchkins said the firm will prepare marketing materials and outreach to identify buyers or users over the coming weeks.
In other actions, magistrates approved an extra county employee holiday on the Friday after Christmas this year; Hutchkins said emergency staff required to work will receive extra pay. The court also allocated $5,000 from opioid funds to help administer a local treatment diversion program started by community members.
Hutchkins said these measures were taken during a meeting that included an executive session on property matters related to the lease and library package. He said the county has a fiduciary duty to get the best return for taxpayers and that some proceeds from property and lease actions will fund the courthouse project overruns.
What comes next: Hutchkins said marketing of the surplus property will proceed in the coming weeks with the contracted firm, and he expects further proposals on policing and industrial development (funding mechanism changes) to come back to the court for decisions soon.
