The Clinton County Commissioners and the Clinton County Council both unanimously agreed to enter into a letter of intent to purchase the former Regions Bank building across the street from the Clinton County Courthouse in downtown Frankfort Thursday morning.
“The Council and the Commissioners both today voted to enter into a letter of intent to make an offer to try and purchase the Regions building across the street that would become a county annex,” said County Council President Alan Dunn. “It’s something that’s been needed for a really long time and the time feels right right now with that building being available at very strategic location. So, we’re going to give it a go.”
There are two potential obstacles that will need to be handled. First, the owner of the building lives out of the country in Canada. Secondly, the owner has put a June 15 deadline for when the closing has to be done.
“We think there is a high likelihood that the letter of intent will be accepted and our closing would be in the middle of June,” said Dunn. “At that time, we have commissioned a firm to go over and start looking at the building and kind of give us an idea on the upgrades that are going to be needed. We’re going into this with our eyes wide open and we understand there’s going to be investments needed in the building to put it up to the standards we want as a county annex.”
Another potential benefit in purchasing the building would be the parking lot located in the back that comes with it.
“We’re going to gain a lot of parking there which is huge for downtown Frankfort and the courthouse,” said Commissioners President Josh Uitts. “In my mind that’s almost a big a win as it is getting the building itself is the parking lot that comes with it.”