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The Dunbar Drive property is officially in the county’s hands now that all families living in the housing units have been relocated.

County administrator McKenzie Wilson said the $1.6 million has been transferred for the purchase of the property out of the county’s jail tax fund, and the county has taken over ownership.

“We are working with TCU (Consulting Services) on how we are going to handle the demolition of the complexes that are there now,” Wilson said.

The property purchase includes the current site of the Boys and Girls Club of Pike and Surrounding Counties.

Isaiah Scott, director, said the property’s transfer does not have any immediate impact on the club.

“It’s the exact same lease that we had with Troy Housing Authority, so there’s no change there,” Scott said. “Until all parties involved identify a new location for the Boys and Girls Club, there won’t be any changes. We have a couple of prospective sites, including one right down the road. Until (a new location is selected), we’re operating day-by-day, month-by-month. There will be no changes; we’ll continue to operate as-is.”

The county entered into a contract with JMR+H Architecture of Montgomery on Oct. 28. The architects are expected to have designs completed for the judicial complex in the next 10 to 12 months, which must be completed before any construction begins.

Scott said the club has no timetable for when it will be moving from its current facility, only that a new location will be secured before the organization moves out of its current building.

“It could be a few months down the road, a year down the road or two years down the road,” Scott said. “The club doesn’t control the timeframe of that. We’re just happy our elected officials recognize the importance of the club and are doing their best to make sure the club continues to serve our area. We wouldn’t have received the exact same lease if not for our county commission. They have taken care of us. From the county commission, to Mayor (Jason) Reeves to the Troy city Council, they have taken care of us … Inevitably, we will not be at 1318 N. Three Notch St. any more, but our organization will continue to service the Pike County area.”

Including the property transaction, the county has now spent a total of $2.013 million of the revenue brought in by a temporary sales tax dedicated solely t the construction of a new county jail facility.

As of the end of September 2019, the tax has brought in $8.032 million in revenue. With $3 million set aside to accrue interest in a CD, Wilson said that leaves more than $3 million still in the jail tax account, with more revenue continuing to stream in every month.

The commission settled a contract with JMR+H for $1.242 million in November, but Wilson said none of that money has been paid yet.

The original revenue projection for the temporary jail tax was $2.5 million annually, so the $8 million generated in 23 months has far exceeded initial expectations.