Marion County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick was given permission by the county board’s building committee Thursday night to make an offer to purchase 12 acres of ground for a new highway garage complex.
McCormick said an appraisal has been completed on the ground with the appraised amount to be offered to the owner Nancy James. The property is locate along US 50 at Hoots Chapel Road just east of RP Lumber Company.
If the land is purchased, the county board will still have to work out a plan to build the estimated one and a half million dollar complex. McCormick says the highway department has some funds set aside, but if money is not available through county funds they will likely have to issue bonds to pay off the structure
overtime.
The current highway garage was built in 1939 and has many structural issues. It is also in a residential neighborhood at Puryn and West Whitaker Streets in Salem.
