Murphy – What the county will do with its portion of the old National Guard Armory was answered Monday night – Tri-County Community College is buying it for $200,000.
Tri-County sought the facility, located just east of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, because of its indoor firing range, along with rooms suitable for classrooms and acreage surrounding the building. The facility will be used by the college’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program.
The Town of Murphy owns the other portion of the facility and uses it as a fire house for the Murphy Rural Fire Department. The town asked for the county to give it the rest of the building, but the request was rejected on a 3-2 vote earlier this month, with Commissioner Cal Stiles suggesting the town or someone else should buy it for at least $200,000.
That’s exactly what happened Monday. The board of commissioners accepted the college’s offer on a 5-0 vote.
“Our executive committee has approved the purchase, and I have discussed this with most of the trustees,” said Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers, president of Tri-County, which serves Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties. “The full board of trustees will take it up at their next meeting. All responses have been favorable, and I don’t anticipate any problems.”
The purchase of property at 118 James A. Mulkey Drive, just off U.S. 19/74, includes the county’s portion of the former armory and 4.77 acres.
“Acquiring the National Guard Armory has been under consideration for quite some time,” Tipton-Rogers said. “Tri-County Community College has recognized the need for an indoor shooting range to train BLET students since the program began.
“Over the years, we have explored various options to secure a facility for law enforcement training, including constructing a new range or purchasing an existing one. We have also pursued multiple funding sources, such as grants and other financial opportunities, to support this initiative.”
Purchasing the former National Guard Armory presents an ideal solution, she said, meeting the college’s training needs while saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to building a new facility. The purchase will be funded through North Carolina educational bond money.
Over the past two years, Tri-County has been developing a Public Safety Academy to provide both basic training for new cadets and in-service training for local law enforcement agencies. This facility will serve as a critical training hub, Tipton-Rogers said, offering not only a shooting range but also classrooms, physical training areas, and dedicated spaces for professional development.
“By establishing this facility, we aim to enhance training opportunities for current and future law enforcement officers, ensuring they have the skills and resources necessary to meet the needs of our growing community,” she said. “Our vision is to create an exceptional Public Safety Academy that our communities will take pride in and look forward to attending. ...
“We are also excited to be neighbors with the Murphy Fire Department at the National Guard Armory. MFD has been a valued partner of the college for many years, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration by sharing resources and providing in-service training.”
Mayor Tim Radford said the town does not intend to try and outbid the college.
“The town does not plan to submit a bid. We look forward to seeing TCCC utilize the space. They are a great community asset. I appreciate the county’s commitment to public safety, and while I respectfully disagree with the decision not to provide the Town of Murphy access to the unused armory space for enhanced fire protection, I’m pleased to see our community college stepping up to partner with the county,” Radford told the Cherokee Scout.
“This is a positive alternative that benefits our region, and I believe it’s a solution we can all support.”