Commission confronts tight April deadline to relocate mill houses; costs and feasibility in question

Commissioners raised urgency around item 6 — relocation of mill houses at 110 Spirit of Life/1060 Macon Highway — during the March 17 session. Staff reported they had not received updated estimates from the home mover contacted earlier and that the developer plans demolition beginning April 15. That timing, several commissioners said, makes it unlikely the county could secure moving contracts or permits in time.

Commissioner Thornton described the time constraint as the principal obstacle: “I just don't see it… even if we put our pedal to the metal, we are not going to make that deadline,” she said. Staff cautioned that while earlier cost estimates exist, the precise moving quote had not been reconfirmed and some costs—truck/transport, traffic control, utility relocations and abatement—would remain if the county decided to move forward. A figure of $536,699 for relocation site prep and abatement was cited in the discussion as the relevant estimate for those components.

Commissioners discussed fallback options including turning county‑owned duplexes into single‑family homes or pursuing other funding sources; several asked staff to continue outreach to potential movers and to report back within two weeks so the commission could decide how to proceed. Staff noted legal and procedural constraints about transferring property and cautioned that some actions (giving homes away) are not straightforward under existing formulas and rules.

No final decision was recorded on March 17; commissioners asked staff to return with updated estimates and options in the next meeting cycle.