Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is selling surplus state property again. This time it's a vacant lot in Frankfort. Since taking office in 2007, Gov. Beshear says his administration has generated nearly $7.5 million through surplus real estate sales. Included in that figure is nearly $79,000 Beshear says the state got for a vacant, two-acre industrial lot in Frankfort.
"We're not using it, and we don't need it," said Beshear. "So we sold it recently to someone who did need it - the Franklin County Fiscal Court. And we sold it at its appraised value of $78,750."
Franklin County Judge Ted Collins says the land will be used as a staging area for the county's new courthouse project. Gov. Beshear used the sale as an example of the millions of dollars the administration has saved taxpayers by renegotiating leases and contracts, and unloading surplus real estate, airplanes and state vehicles.
SURPLUS SALES
Gov. Beshear says the state has good success raising money through the sale of surplus state real estate.
"Among the properties that we've sold are two former armories, in Frankfort and Owensboro; a parking garage in Covington; the manager's residence at a state park in Owensboro; and numerous pieces of right-of-way along Kentucky's highways," said Beshear.
STAGING AREA
Judge Collins says the two-acre lot will be used as a staging area for the county's new courthouse project.
"We're building a judicial center around our 1835 courthouse on Saint Clair," said Collins. "It was a very very, tight site to do a building, so we're hoping to be able to stage here on this property. Our fiscal court, the full court, voted unanimously to buy this property."
Collins wasn't sure how the county will use the property once the courthouse project is completed.
