Commissioners Pursue Plan To Buy City Parking Garage

Washington County Commissioners are moving forward with a plan to purchase the City of Washington’s parking garage. Commissioners unanimously approved a measure on Thursday to authorize the County Solicitor to issue a Letter of Interest to purchase the garage located on North Franklin Street. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, the garage was appraised by Owen Appraisal Service for approximately $4 million. The county is currently weighing its options on what to do with the Courthouse Square building. Sherman says engineering studies have been performed and it is now up to the board to determine the best way to deal with the building, fix it or demolish it for a new public safety building. Regardless of which decision is made, county employees would need a place to park their vehicles and the purchase of the parking garage is the most logical course of action. Sherman says that the garage that is majority owned by the city and minority owned by the Washington School District has been losing money for years. It would be a win for all parties if the county would purchase the garage. Funds would be coming from the American Rescue Plan Act funds. Sherman also said that it may be possible to take over an existing bond on the building if that is feasible. No exact timeline has been established but Sherman did say that decisions need to be made soon on the course of action to be taken on Courthouse Square.