Commissioners agree to sell county-owned Peerless Road property

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley County commissioners agreed Monday to sell part of the county-owned Peerless Road property.

The commission vote allows County Mayor D. Gary Davis to sign a contract to sell the property to Peerless Investment Group. Mr. Davis said some details remain before the sale is closed.

Acknowledging concerns in the local agriculture community, commissioners passed a resolution to use some sale proceeds toward replacing the county cannery, 4-H livestock show barn and the farmers market area that now occupy the site. Tentative plans for the replacement facilities are now before the commission’s Buildings and Land Committee.

Robin Ramsey, a Cleveland resident, asked commissioners to use money from the sale for agriculture programs, including 4-H.

Commissioner Ed Elkins said that’s what’s happening.

“We are doing more than just replacing what is out there,” Mr. Elkins said. Plans call for a larger cannery and a covered farmers market area on Urbane Road and an expanded show barn at the Tri-State Exhibition Center.

Before Monday’s vote, Commissioner Jim Smith said the 30-day time limit on the offer from Peerless Investment Group would expire before the commission met again.

“We need to take some action today or just scrap the whole thing,” Mr. Smith said.

The commission delayed plans to use about two-thirds of the $1.2 million offer to buy an industrial building on Blue Springs Road. Commissioners have said they would like to buy a building that could be converted to a county garage and other uses.

Commissioner Lisa Stanbery asked about drainage and the location of the flood plain, and about the age and condition of the building.

Afterward, the Building and Lands Committee met and agreed that a second parcel offered for the garage would not suit the county’s needs. Members voted to keep the Blue Springs site as their primary target.