
The authorization came after a closed session.
McInturff said the county owns 51% of the cleared property between Gold and Copper, and Pine and Cedar, while the city owns 49%.
But, he said, since the city and county operate under separate state statutes and regulations, it has become cumbersome to have both governmental entities involved in offering the land for lease.
It has been reported that Walgreens is interested in leasing the property.
County Manager Kelly Kuenstler said the county has approximately $700,000 invested in the property, which housed Western Furniture for years and was later converted to county offices while the courthouse was remodeled.
McInturff said he has instructed city attorney Jim Foy to draft a purchase sales agreement which he hopes to present to county officials next week.
If approved by the county commissioners, the purchase will still have to be approved by the State Board of Finance.
McInturff hopes to have the purchase on the Board of Finance’s September 17th agenda.
The money to buy the property, he said, would come from the city’s general fund reserves.
McInturff added that the first two phases of the environmental process on the land have been completed.
He said there was a small amount of soil contamination from leakage of the underground gas storage tanks located beneath the former Downtown Exxon business. The state paid $30,000 to complete the clean-up.