Habersham County Development Authority Chairman Jim Butterworth addressed the county commission about the possible fate of the old courthouse during the commission meeting Monday.
He told the commissioners that the authority had met earlier this month and discussed the issue of the old courthouse venture. Butterworth added that this was an “urging resolution” or a starting point for a conversation with the development authority and the county commission.
He read to the commissioners a prepared statement from the development authority requesting the transfer of the courthouse to the development authority.
“We, the Habersham County Development Authority, would ask that the Habersham County Board of Commissioners consider transferring the old courthouse to the development authority as soon as reasonably possible to facilitate the demolition of the building formerly known as the Habersham County Courthouse.”
The statement outlines the role of the development authority in the demolition process once the property is transferred.
“The Development Authority will then proceed with the demolition through prescribed legal processes. The vacant lot would then be marketed for economic development purposes. Proceeds of the sale of the property would be utilized to return expenses of the demolition to the development authority. Excess net proceeds would be divided 50/50 between the development authority and the Board of Commissioners. The demolition project will be managed by the Development Authority Executive Director and the appropriate county staff.”
Butterworth explained that this was the start of the conversation and the development authority was open to further discussion of the old courthouse.
Commissioner Jimmy Tench read from a document he brought to the meeting to Butterworth and the Commission. According to Tench, the document was from the county commission in February 2009. “The current courthouse would become the county administrative building. It will house the many county departments that for many years have been located outside of downtown Clarkesville. The courthouse will not be destroyed or sold,” Butterworth responded that he was not familiar with that document.
Butterworth told the commissioners that he was open to whatever they might have to begin the conversation. He explained that it was obvious the direction they may need to go with the courthouse. After ten months, the previous organization that had aspirations to repurpose the building found that the expense to reconstruct the courthouse was greater than they could generate with any future sales.
Commission Vice-Chairman Bruce Harkness asked Butterworth if he had any idea about the cost of the demolition. He responded that the cost was plus or minus $200,000. He added that County Manager Alicia Vaughn could give spec
Harkness asked if any of the expenses would be shared with the city of Clarkesville? Butterworth responded that it was open for discussion. “I don’t want to exclude anybody,” he said.
Butterworth did confirm that he had shared this idea with at least one member of the Clarkesville City Council. “As far as sharing the expense, we have not had that conversation,” he said. He confirmed that the authority had the funds available to move forward at this time.
