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Commissioners eyeing new use for county-owned building

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The building most recently leased by Tyler Technologies, Inc., as employees’ base of operations during the Washington County property reassessment will nearly double in size to accommodate federal and county agencies related to agriculture and soil conservation.

The Washington County commissioners Thursday ratified a lease with the Washington County Conservation District to use the building that was first constructed as a youth detention home.

The Washington County Conservation District and U.S. Department Agriculture Farm Service bureau will be moving next year from 2800 N. Main St., to 50 Old Hickory Ridge Road. Both buildings have Washington addresses but are in the vicinity of the fairgrounds in Arden.

Gary Stokum, manager of the Washington County Conservation District, said the current landlord, Eaton Crouse-Hinds, 2800 N. Main St., is permitting the agencies to remain on a month-to-month lease until the building on Old Hickory Road is ready for occupancy.

He expects the Old Hickory Road address to expand to 9,000 square feet from 5,300, with second stories added to wings at each end of the brick building. It currently has 13 parking spaces, which will increase to 50. Excess soil from the expansion will be used to level areas of the hillside parking field at the Washington County fairgrounds.

“Commissioner (Larry) Maggi brought this to us,” Stokum said. Maggi represents the board of commissioners on the conservation district board of directors.

Stokum likened the arrangement to the fair board’s use of the fairgrounds. Over 40 years, he projected that the arrangement will save county taxpayers $4.3 million in rent the agency won’t have to pay to a private-sector landlord. The conservation district will be responsible for the building’s maintenance.

Along with the farm service agency, making the move will be the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, a sister agency that predates the county conservation district.

“We will sublease to the USDA. It’s going to become the agricultural service center, basically,” Stokum said.

The move next year corresponds with a 70-year-old declaration by the Washington County commissioners creating the conservation district, which is aims to preserve soil, water and related natural resources by avoiding practices that contribute to erosion and the wasting of soil. It demonstrates proper farm practices, surveys potential land disturbances and issues government-required permits.

The conservation district has had several locations over the years, moving in 2012 from the Courthouse Square office building.

Stokum was hired as the district’s first full-time erosion and sedimentation control technician in 1983.

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