County considers fate of several county-owned buildings; invites citizen ideas

November 10, 2023 Jessica Waters

In an October 18 called meeting of the Stephens County Board of Commissioners, commissioners and staff addressed the overall issue of county-owned buildings and properties, and discussed what “next steps” needed to be taken on several of those buildings.

WNEG News sat down last week with County Administrator Christian Hamilton to clarify the direction he took from Commissioners as a result of that meeting, and what progress has been made on those objectives.

Hamilton said getting input from the Commissioners and hearing their priorities and goals was important, and helped to initiate an inventory-taking process for county buildings.

One of the specific buildings that were discussed, and will be included in the county building inventory, is the former Casey’s Pro Tire building on Mize Road that the county purchased in 2022 with the intent of the property serving as the county’s fleet maintenance facility.

Hamilton said the building has been through review and is not optimal for that purpose, and said the county is working to figure out the best use of the building.

Two buildings that have been in the county’s inventory for a long time are the old County Annex building, across Savannah Street from the Historic Courthouse, and the old Hospital building, adjacent to the current Public Health building. Hamilton first addressed the county’s plans regarding the old hospital. He added that comments from the public – especially regarding ideas for the use for the building – are welcome and encouraged.

WNEG News toured the old hospital building and has provided photographs of the interior attached to this story to assist with potential-use ideas from the public.

Next, Hamilton discussed the annex building, and said the presence of asbestos in that facility limits the county’s choices to some degree.

Hamilton again stressed that public input was welcome, and in fact, requested, by commissioners

He added that, while comments on social media can help to open up conversations, direct contact with commissioners would be the best way to provide input on possible uses of the Hospital and other facilities.