Putnam County Commissioners will not offer the developer interested in the old Putnam County Fairgrounds a no-cost 90-day extension.
The county approved an option to sell the old fairgrounds to a developer over two years ago, but a deal has not been completed. Part of that was waiting to see if a VA Clinic would be built on one corner of the facility. That project will be built on Neal Street. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the county can ask the developer to pay an estimated $30,000 to continue renewing the option.
“I mean, we are in a different place than we were back then, so I think you need to take that into consideration, if you make a decision tonight as to what to do,” Porter said. “We were looking at those funds from the old fairgrounds to help build the new fairgrounds, and those are not needed like they were before.”
Commissioner Junior Phipps said he thinks the county should keep the old fairgrounds. Commissioner David Andrews said the commission needs to go on record about not extending the 90-day option to hopefully move things faster along.
“I think that makes a statement from this body tonight for all to see exactly how we feel about it,” Andrews said.
County Attorney Jeff Jones said the county is currently not in a position to keep the fairgrounds, but sees that the developer is trying to extend the option without paying. Porter said if the developer does not renew the option at the end of the month, then the county could take the position to not sell the fairgrounds.
The VA did not select the old fairgrounds to build a VA Clinic, and instead, the VA chose a property off of Neal Street near the Cookeville Police Department. Porter said the county is disappointed that the old fairgrounds were not chosen, but the good news is the VA Clinic will be coming to Cookeville.
“We are getting a new 50,000 square foot facility for our veterans, so a lot of them don’t have to drive to Murfreesboro and Nashville and be able to come here, not only for the folks in Putnam County, but for all around the region,” Porter said. “I think it’s gonna be a good thing for us, and I am glad we are getting it.”
Putnam County Resident Grayson Cupit suggested that the old fairgrounds be used to build more affordable housing.