A proposal to establish a drone manufacturing facility in Gainesboro stalled following the town’s decision not to sell a municipal building currently used for city operations.
Alderman Tom Goetz said the unsolicited offer was not high enough to justify a transaction. Goetz said the town lacks an alternative location to house the equipment and personnel currently stationed at the site.
“The sale of the building, no, like I said, it was never listed for sale, have no intention of selling it,” Goetz said. “So it was really kind of amazed that just came out of the blue with somebody making an offer.”
Alderman Beth Young said the board did not make a motion to either refuse or deny the proposal during the September meeting because the offer was presented at the last minute. Young said that, without a motion from the board, the proposal is considered dead and will not be brought back for further discussion.
“I do want our listeners and readers to realize that we are here for the town,” Young said. “We do what we think is best for our town, and we try to do anything we can to help our town, but at the same time, if we do not have any buildings for sale, we can’t just up and sell our assets.”
The facility currently serves as the town impoundment lot and a central hub for city maintenance workers. Goetz said the site stores essential materials and equipment including gravel, sand, and lawnmowers used for road maintenance.
“We did not have that piece of property listed for sale, and the offer that was made was going to be insufficient to make us consider selling of the building,” Goetz said. “Plus, the biggest factor is we have no place else to move to.”
Joshua Abbotoy, the prospective buyer, has not provided the town with updated timelines, investment figures, or job creation estimates since the initial meeting. Young said the board has received no communication regarding whether the project might be relocated elsewhere in the county.
“It was an offer that was not solicited, and we’re not in the frame of mind to sell a building at this time,” Young said. “We still use that building.”