By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The old Barren County Health Department remains under county ownership.
Auctions for the now-vacant building, which is located on West Washington Street, was April 10 through 24 with Bryant Realty and Auction overseeing the online and in-person auctions. Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd said the highest bid was $280,000, which did not meet the county $800,000 reserve.
“Now is just not a good time, we pushed it to the spring because of the presidential election, but I still don’t think it’s the best time,” Byrd said later regarding the non-sale.
Earlier, the county had the property appraised for $1.08 million, she said.
After the $280,000 bid came to her attention, Byrd said she countered with $600,000, which was not accepted.
Byrd said since the bid did not meet the county’s desired price, she is looking at a variety of steps forward for the building and lot, including such things as leasing the building or possibly subdividing the parcel. Byrd said she did not “foresee” another auction taking place.
“We’re weighting our options right now,” Byrd said. “I do think we could make more money as a county leasing it.”
The “end game,” Byrd said, was the recouperation of some of the monies spent on the Barren County Development Center, which was the goal of the auction. In 2023 the Barren County Fiscal Court purchased the 38,000 square-foot former U.S. Bank Building for $1.1 million. After the year of renovations, Byrd estimated the county invested around $2.2 million into the building, noting the HVAC replacement was the most costly.
“There is some stuff brewing right now,” Byrd said. “We’re running all kinds of ideas.”
