by the county and suggested these numbers were too

by the county and suggested these numbers were too high.

The implication was that the costs were at least comparable, and that a new building near the highway behind Rappahannock National Bank would not present the problems Fletcher saw in the old Arts Building, which he said included no parking, no ADA access to the top floor, a deteriorating root and more needed work that was included in McCarthy’s estimate.

What really seemed to get people riled up was when McCarthy responded to two allegations by Fletcher that the purchase price was essentially the price it would take to eliminate all the debt and back taxes the current owner, Peter Kramer, had on the building.

“The loan on that property is more than what fair market value would be,” said Fletcher and asked if the county was now in the business of buying “toxic loans.”

Tom Junk was more blunt saying, “Why should we care what Peter Kramer owes?”

But McCarthy responded by explaining there are no comparable commercial properties in the county, that the county is really the only potential purchaser of Kramer’s property, and that the price, renovation and build out, although not ideal, is still lower than what it would cost to build a new office, and that the price was what Kramer was willing to sell for.

But that didn't assuage or mollify many of those present, even when most of the supervisors spoke in favor of the proposed purchase.

“I think it’s kind of irresponsible for anybody to purchase a property for more than the assessed value,” said county resident Pbggy Ralph.

Jean Lilian!, a real estate agent in Flint Hill, said, “This is way over a reasonable value.

“I don’t think it would sell, it may go into foreclosure and then the countv could get it for $600-700,000.”

The most heated comments came from l\>ter Hitchin, of Washington, when he stated that “then- hasn't been much clem thinking on this."

Hitchin stressed that as individuals, any member of the board would seek an appraisal beforo buying property for themselves.

That’s what you would do, that’s what 1 would do,” he said.

“If 1 get into trouble, will you come buy me out?” he asked to which McCarthy gave an emphatic “No.”

Toward the end, board chairman Robert Anderson seemed to have had enough and told Fletcher he “would not lx- pn-ached to."

After the public hearing, most supervisors spoke in favor of tlie proposed purchase e-xcept for Ron Frazier who noted that people in his district were against it.

In the end, the supervisors voted to delay the purchase for 45 days so they could get the building inspected, have an appraisal done, and come up with firmer figures for now construction and renovation.

Speaking to the Rappahannock News this week. McCarthy confirmed that he has made calls to have the building inspected for termites, and that he plans to have an appraisal done soon.

McCarthy reiterated that no bids will be solicited until there are plans, and that the only work that would occur on the Arts Building next fiscal year if approved would be painting and a new roof The painting would be done by county jail inmates; the roof - standing seam metal - would have to pass muster with the towns Architectural Review Board.

fie supervisors will vote on tlx- resolution at their April 6 meeting, but there will be no further public hearings on the issue.