Murphy – After overcoming objections to a shower, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved plans to convert the former Cherokee County Schools Central Office into an emergency operations command center.
Cherokee County commissioners evicted county schools from the building at 911 Andrews Road effective this month to make room for emergency operations and building inspection services.
The county had looked at converting its portion of the old National Guard Armory just east of the Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, but determined that it would be too costly. The county shares that building with the Town of Murphy, which stores fire department equipment there.
The project has an estimated cost of $37,650. County emergency services has obtained three grants and put money aside for several years to pay for the move.
County workers will be used for flooring and painting to expedite completion of the project.
The board of commissioners on Sept. 3 – two days after taking occupancy of 911 Andrews Road from the school district – voted 3-1 for the plans, with Commissioner Cal Stiles opposed (because the plan includes a shower), while board Chair Randy Phillips was ill and absent.
Stiles and fellow commissioners Ben Adams and Dan Eichenbaum, who was acting chair in Phillips’ absence, all expressed concerns about the plans including a shower. Stiles said having a shower was inappropriate for a professional building.
However, Adams and Eichenbaum overcame their objections and joined Commissioner Jan Griggs, agreeing that having a shower would be important for a building that would be used in emergencies, when staff would be required to remain available for days.
The building already includes a full kitchen.
Among the changes, the room where the school board met will become an emergency operations center. The room that had been the superintendent’s office will be opened up to the lobby and house building inspections. One restroom will be converted to a shower room.
The existing center at 59 Hiwassee St. will be vacated and sold. It last sold in 1998 for $149,000, but the county tax assessor puts the value at $520,750 today.
Selling it would be a boost to the county both because of the one-time sales proceeds, but also the annual property tax revenue it generates once it becomes privately owned. The building is a one-story. 4,750-square-foot former post office on 0.45 of an acre.
The new location sits on 1.15 acres with 5,200 square feet of space. It last sold for $265,000 in 2001, and has an assessed value of $626,710.