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The county recently has begun the initial steps to obtain about 150 acres of federal property along Highway 55 for a new court and county office buildings. The property, part of the Arnold Air Force Base’s 47,000-acre reservation, lies just past the former landfill site acquired by the government to form the base just after World War II. During the 1970s, a corner of that tract was acquired by the county as a site for Coffee County Central High School.

Sheriff Chad Partin addressed the county Capital Outlay Committee during its April 23 meeting. Partin said he and late County Mayor Judd Matheny had worked to acquire the property for a new justice center and jail years ago while Matheny was a State Rep.

He said the county instead went with the property south of Manchester on Highway 41.

Partin called the Highway 55 property some of the best land in the county.

“We’ve rejuvenated this conversation, and we may have an opportunity for the county to acquire this property,” Partin said. “This is the first step. If the whole legislative body approves it, this would be forwarded to Sen. (Marsha) Blackburn and Rep. Scott DesJarlais to have conversation with us about the property.”

He said that he’s had personal conversations with Washington D.C. stakeholders concerning the acquisition. He and Interim Mayor Dennis Hunt attended the Arnold Community Council meeting to inform the base leadership of the county’s intent.

Partin seemed optimistic that the property could be acquired as surplus. Late Mayor Judd Matheny had briefly discussed with The Times acquiring the property with a $1 lease for 99 years.

Partin noted that the use of the land for official government use would create a different situation from the process that the county purchased the property in 1977 for the Interstate Industrial Park.

The long-term plan for the property could include a new justice center to replace the ailing Hillsboro Boulevard structure that was repurposed from a high school gymnasium into courthouse.

Other building projects would include an office complex to replace the Coffee County Administrative Plaza on McArthur Street. Those two properties, located in prime commercial locations could be auctioned.

“Sometime maybe for phase two, CCAP could go back on the books into private hands,” Partin said.

“Knowing that a lot of the property around this building is being developed, and things are blossoming on this end of town, this would be some review for the county.”

Partin said that of the base’s 47,000 acres, we’re only looking at 150 acres that lies outside the containment fence.

Acquiring the property will take a while, Partin explained, then the county could build a justice center with administrative offices for the court clerks, District Attorney personnel and the sheriff department. The jail administration and jail facility would stay at its current location.

A letter signed by the county judges, the sheriff and the court clerk was presented to the county commission that called the county has outgrown the current Justice Center.

It noted that there are four judges but only three courtrooms there.

“The building is at the end of its life and isn’t safe anymore,” the letter reads. The signers all request working together to acquire the property, the letter said, adding that it has been in use as a courthouse since 1982, but was built as a school gymnasium in the 1930s.

Capital Outlay unanimously approved recommending that the full commission move forward on requesting the acquisition.