In Mar. 6-12 issue
By Greg Wells
Times Journal Managing Editor

JAMESTOWN - After receiving some of the appraisals they were waiting for, the Russell County Project Development Board pushed forward with development of the Judicial Center.

The board met Monday night to discuss property appraisals for land on which the board wants to build the new Judicial Center.

They spent just over an hour in executive session discussing appraisals of property located around the Jamestown square.

In an interview Tuesday, County Judge-Executive Mickey Garner said the appraiser had delivered ten appraisals, eight of which were ones requested and that two other properties in which the board was interested were not appraised.

He said some property on the southeast corner of the square was appraised, but that was not needed. He noted the building presently housing a book store and an adjacent empty lot on the northeast corner of the square should have been appraised.

He said the error will be corrected.

As to the appraisals themselves, Garner said the board was not releasing them but, "they were close to the asking prices."

After they returned to open session the board agreed that a committee of board members will start negotiations with property owners.

The committee will be comprised of County Judge-Executive Mickey Garner, Circuit Clerk Tony Kerr and local attorneys M. Gail Wilson and Kevin Shearer.

Since Shearer serves as legal counsel for the city of Jamestown it was noted that he will not be involved in negotiations with the City
Garner said Tuesday that the board would be seeking 60- to 90-day options on the properties they are seeking to purchase in the near future and that the location could be sewn up late this spring.

The board was told Monday night by their financial services company that the fiscal court has approved the first reading of a bond proposal and that after a second reading later this month they will be ready to issue $4 million in bonds to pay for the first steps in the process of building the $12 million facility.

The building will house the Circuit and District Court Rooms, as well as associated offices to include the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

The board is scheduled to meet next at 5 p.m. April 7th in the Russell County Courthouse.