County gets no bidders for annex buildings

No one bid on either of the two county annexes at Thursday’s public auction of the buildings.

A sheriff’s sale was scheduled in the entrance of the justice center, but attended only by three county employees.

Now that the original courthouse remodeling project is complete, the annex office space no longer is needed and county commissioners agreed to try to sell the buildings. Offices housed in the annex will move either into the courthouse or another building on the courthouse campus.

County officials had considered moving the annex buildings and using them for other county functions. But, after learning that it would cost between $30,000 and $70,000 to move each building, county leaders backed away from that plan.

County Administrator Mike Pence said the county’s intention, now that no one bid on the buildings, is to tear them down. No specific demolition plan has been developed.

County officials conducted a second auction this week, to sell restaurant equipment that had been used at JR’s Pizza and Margie’s Cafe in the Gateway Community Center.

The two restaurants had been run by the Agency on Aging in an effort to raise money to fund the county’s Meals on Wheels program. But neither restaurant had been able to turn a profit in the 18 or so months they had been open.

The auction netted $11,870, county Finance Director Sandy Carlson said.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t make huge dollars,” she said.

About 10 local business owners purchased items at the auction, she said. “The community will continue to benefit from Margie’s gift.”

The restaurants opened after the Agency on Aging used the proceeds of a donation from the estate of Margie Blake. Blake had been the first Meals on Wheels volunteer in the county.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.