4:00 PM How Did The Citizens Really Benefit From The Sale of the Houston County Farm Center
Rickey StokesViewed: 3723
Posted by: RStokes
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Date: May 13 2022 4:01 PM
HOUSTON COUNTY: As I passed the Houston County Farm Center this week there were a lot of cars parked out front.
The Houston County Probate Office has been training poll workers this week in a meeting room located in the area where Houston County Entension Office is located. There is a comfortable, air conditioned meeting room in the building. Probably as many as 50 cars parked for that parking.
But this got me to thinking:
1. Houston County Commission were going to sale the Houston County Farm Center to a development company in Tampa Florida for $ 2.2 million. But the commission would not say what was going to be developed there.
2. RSN busted that the City of Dothan owned about 16% of the property, which none of the Houston County Commissioners or Dothan City Commissioners knew that. Talking about throwing a monkey wrech in their plans!!!
3. The City of Dothan purchased the Farm Center property for $ 2.5 million to help control what was developed on that property. About 40 acres of land on Ross Clark Circle at Cottonwood Road.
As a result of that sale:
1. The Houston County Commission purchased a building to house the Houston County Sheriff Department.
2. The Houston County Commission has allocated $ 1 million dollars of ARPA money to construct a warehouse for the Houston County Sheriff Department. Currently the Houston County Sheriff Department stores equipment at the Houston County Farm Center.
3. The voting machines had been stored at the Houston County Farm Center. The Houston County Commission had to rent somewhere to store the voting machines. So they rented a placed that was on a four lane highway with a high traffic county for $ 40,000.00 per year to store the machines. A visibility commercial property for storage.
4. At the Houston County Farm Center, two buildings, already air conditioned, bathroom, one with a complete kitchen, metal buildings. One with three large air conditioner units which is about 7,620 square feet and the other with four large air conditioner untis and about 13,440 square feet.
5. At the Houston County Farm Center other warehouse space, barns and RV spots.
6. The Houston County Commissioon are required to find places for: Alabama Veteran's Affairs Offices; Houston County Extension Officer; Houston County In Home Services; Houston County Water Department.
7. Those at the Farm Center maintain the Farm Center and several park areas where they keep the grass cut. The equipment is stored at the Houston County Farm Center.
So, what did the citizens of Houston County gain with the sale of the Houston County Farm Center for $ 2.5 million. The sale of prime real estate property.
Under the Freedom of Information is the cost of the Farm Center for the last several years. Keep in mind, the staff did not only maintain the grounds of the Farm Center but other county property. Several pieces of equipment on the list are for the mainenance of the other property.
Again, how did Houston County benefit from the sale of the Houston County Farm Center?
Farm Center Expenditures by Rickey Stokes on Scribd
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