Editor’s Note: The author of this article sits on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of North Central North Carolina, Vance County Unit.
With County Commissioner Danny Wright casting the sole dissenting vote, the Vance County Board of Commissioners voted six to one to give its interest in the Armory to the City of Henderson, provided that the City in turn give the County its share of the former Rose Avenue library.
The action by the Board effectively denies the Boys and Girls Club the use of the facility.
The vote by the Commission represents a partial reversion to the County’s original negotiating offer, one which was rejected by the City. In the original offer, the City was to assume ownership of the Armory and the County would take the Rose Avenue building. Also, in that scenario, the City would pay the County the difference in the value between the two properties, approximately $447,500 as estimated by the County. Those property values ($1.1 million for the Armory and $205,000 for the Rose Avenue facility) are disputed by the City.
It is widely believed that the County wishes to convert the former library to much-needed County office space.
The City has stated on numerous occasions that it considers the issues of the Armory and the former library to be separate issues and has presented several offers to the County, all of which have been rejected. In October, the City solicited a tender offer from the County on the Rose Avenue facility. It is not clear if the County ever replied to the City.
The Henderson City Council has resolved to save the Armory if possible. The County Commission, on the other hand, has resolved that they have no interest in preserving the Henderson landmark.
When the news of the Commission’s action was received by the Henderson City Council, member Bobby Gupton commented that he did not believe that the City could afford to take the County’s offer.
According to the County’s most recent audit, its unrestricted fund balance is approximately $9.5 million. This is a significantly greater percentage than the City currently enjoys.