Plagued by problems at the existing Utility Billing Office in downtown Frankfort, the Frankfort Utility Service Board is looking into the possibility of purchasing the Regions Bank satellite building located behind the Speedway Gas Station at 1405 E. Wabash Ave.
At a special meeting on July 24, the USB voted to seek two appraisals on the building, which has been vacant for some time. A resolution was passed to get the appraisals which is required for the purchase of real property by a government organization.
“From almost day one of my association with the Utility Board, there has always been some kind of complaint about the Utility Billing Office,” said USB Chairman Mike Kelley. “We can’t find a place to park to pay our bill, we can’t get there when its open, why can’t you have a drive-up window. You’ve got an alley behind you.”
Kelley said the possibility of purchasing the old Regions building could solve a lot of problems.
“Parking is no issue,” said Kelley. “It has four functioning drive-up windows and it also has a drive-up drop area. We would also be able to have a night deposit.”
Kelley added they have been inside the old Regions building and said “it is in good shape on the inside.”
The board has been thinking about possibly trying to rehab the building on the west side of the Clinton County Courthouse. However, Kelley said last week they looked into that possibility and it (the cost) was “heftily expensive.”
“We can’t just buy it (the Regions building),” said Kelley. “We have to have two appraisals made by commercial property appraisers and cannot pay any more than what would be the average of their two appraisals. What we did (at our meeting) was take the first step in this whole process which was to authorize through resolution to do that.”
Kelley added they would finance the purchase with available cash.