A joint meeting of two committees from the Warren County Commission approved the purchase of property next door to the Administration Building Monday night.

The Building and Grounds and Financial Management committees met together, discussing the purchase of a two-story home and approximate .4 acre lot located at 203 Locust St., between the Warren County Administration Building and Walgreens.

The potential purchase, which will likely be devoted to providing extra parking at the county building, was brought up at a Financial Management committee meeting earlier this month, and at that time Bell was given the authority to negotiate the sale price with the family of Charles “Slim” Ingalls, who is currently living in an assisted living facility.

“Everybody knows ‘Slim’ is wanting to sell his house, and he’s in the rest home,” County Executive Terry Bell explained. “Budget and Finance and Financial Management have already been negotiating with them, and they’re willing to take $212,000.”

“Someday, it’ll probably be a parking lot,” Bell said during Monday’s meeting. “This building actually does not have good parking. I have a lot of complaints about our parking when people come into our office, because if anything goes on here, the front lot fills up.”

Chief of Staff Jason Hillis confirmed the parking situation and need for more space for county employees.

“We have about 12 employees who are parking across the street at the church,” he said. “If that ever comes to an end, there are 12 more spaces every day that won’t be available to the public.”

Cole Taylor of the 10th District expressed concerns with the price the county was willing to pay for the property.

“The only problem I’ve got with it is, things are slowing down,” he said. “I’ve talked to several realtors, and the market is slowing down. With no more than what we’re getting for the money, that concerns me. But at the same time, I’m a firm believer in ‘you don’t need everything, you just need what joins you.’”

“But this will never be here again,” responded 7th District commissioner Tommy Savage.

“Slim wanted the county to have it,” Bell added. “He came to us first, before they put it on the market.”

The money for the purchase will come from the county’s General Fund balance. After discussion by members of both committees regarding details of the purchase and use of the property in both the long- and short-term, Savage made a motion before Building and Grounds to offer $212,000 for the property. Scott Kelly of District 5 seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Scott Rubley of District 8, chairman of the Budget and Finance committee, then moved to appropriate a maximum of $212,000 for the purchase. Taylor seconded the motion, which also passed unanimously.