Commission refers contested county storage lease to property committee after debate over contents and cost

Roane County commissioners voted May 11 to send a contested county storage lease back to the property committee for further review after extensive debate about a recent rent increase and what is stored inside the building.

Commissioners and county staff said the county has rented the storage space for roughly 15 years and that this is the first rate increase in that period. Questions raised included what is stored (discussants mentioned boats, four‑wheelers, sheriff’s items and seized/confiscated property), whether the county pays insurance and maintenance, and whether the county should instead use space in county-owned facilities. Sheriff’s office representatives and staff noted that some department property is stored there and that moving items could be costly.

Several commissioners argued the item should be reviewed by the property committee so members can inspect the building, inventory contents, and evaluate alternatives; others warned that sending the lease back to committee creates a potential financial risk if the landlord asserts the county is in breach while a new location is sought. After the debate, the motion to refer the lease renewal to the property committee carried by voice vote. The chair recommended the property committee meet on site with the sheriff to inventory contents and produce recommendations to the commission.

The transcript records concerns about potential costs to move county property, the lack of historic procurement/bidding for the space, and the desire to build county-owned storage in the future; commissioners asked the county executive and property committee to prioritize an on-site review and a clear inventory before final action.