Habersham County Commission approves purchase of land near jail

CLARKESVILLE - Following a brief closed session specifically to discuss the possible purchase of property, the Habersham County Commission voted Monday night to purchase land adjacent to the Habersham County Detention Center.

The current jail is landlocked, so the 6.07-acre purchase is for future growth, county officials said.

Habersham County Commission Chairman Chad Henderson said discussion of the property began during closed session in April.

"There's a tract of land that is adjacent to the jail," Henderson said. "We know that we're going to have a need in the future to expand that jail or renovate the jail, and this gives us the ability - we don't have a whole lot of land that we'd be able to do so on - so going forward this gives us the opportunity to actually be able to expand the jail."

County Manager Phil Sutton said the land is located behind the current jail and fronts West Water Street.

The commission agreed to the negotiated price of that averages $9,060.96 per acre for the property.

"We are able to do so at a price of $55,000 for that piece of property," Henderson said. "It was a unanimous decision."

Closing on the property purchase is expected mid-June, Sutton said.

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