City to ask for offer on old library


The Henderson City Council voted to ask the Vance County Board of Commissioners to make an offer on the old library on Rose Avenue.

Since negotiations between the City and County commenced regarding the disposition of the library and the Armory, the two have been linked together in six different scenarios in which value, ownership, or both are exchanged. In the latest offer from the County, the City would take possession of the Armory and the County would take possession of the library. No money would change hands unless a property was sold or rented for a non-public use, in which case half of the proceeds would be transferred to the other party.

When Council member Bobby Gupton, Chair of the Land Planning and Development Committee, asked for the approval of the Council regarding this offer, Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert asked if this contradicted an earlier resolution by the Council stating its intent to preserve the Armory.

Gupton responded that the council can make a motion saying that it does not have the money to save the Armory. He also said that he does not want to burden the city with the liability of tearing down the Armory.

Council member Garry Daeke said that if state and federal tax credits could be secured, a developer could be engaged to work on the property. He said that he wanted a last look.

Gupton said that a time frame should be put on the Armory so that the city can move forward and tell the County that it wants the Armory to be sold.

Harper added that no one ever mentions the museum, another decaying property that both the City and the County own jointly.

Gupton added that the old police station “isn’t doing too well” either.