| 113th Year, 14th Issue | Thursday, November 15, 2001 | Sparta, North Carolina |
The Sparta Town Council and the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners last week voted, in separate meetings, to provide half of the purchase price for the former Bassett-Walker building.
The two entities plan to buy the former manufacturing facility on Atwood Street to house the Blue Ridge Telecenter (BRT). Each board's participation in the purchase — with the building priced at $250,000 — will be made in four annual installments of $31,250 each.
As for the town, at its August meeting, council voted that same financial commitment. Its Nov. 6 action, however, came following a public hearing and with a memorandum of understanding with the county.
Town Manager Tom Douglas explained that when discussions on buying the building began, County Manager Don Adams did not deem a public hearing necessary. "As things progressed, we found it necessary to have a public hearing to spend the money," said Douglas.
At the commissioners' meeting on Nov. 5, Adams said that the town requested the memorandum of understanding. No comment on the issue was made by the county commission at the meeting.
Neither governing body received public comments during the hearings that were held last week.
The telecenter plans to move into the Bassett-Walker building next September, once renovations are complete. Work is expected to begin on the project in the coming months.
About 75 jobs are likely to be created, contingent upon the location of a call center here. An announcement on the call center is expected in the coming weeks.
Until the building is ready for occupation, the telecenter's staff will use the former Sheets Jewelry location on Main Street as a temporary location.
Douglas said of the telecenter, "It seems to be an opportunity to create some jobs and create a new industry in Alleghany County."
The building will be purchased in the county's name. Council's financial commitment is contingent on the county purchasing the building.
The memorandum of understanding includes a payback clause, should the county decide later to sell the building. "If it doesn't succeed, I think the town should be entitled to reimbursement," he said.
Town Attorney William Graham said discussions included the question of whether the town's agreement with the county should be recorded in the Alleghany County Register of Deeds office.
"The county would prefer it not be recorded, but be a memorandum of understanding only," Douglas said. "I think it's no problem; it will be a gentlemen's agreement."
Just before council's vote, council member George Mack Irwin said, "That's a lot of money."
"I'm just glad we'll be able to participate in that, George," responded Mayor John H. Miller. "I think it's a shot in the arm for the county."
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