Room to grow: Little River County buys building to expand its offices

The recent purchase of the First Guaranty Insurance Building should help the operation of Little River's county government, said Mike Cranford, county judge.
The recent purchase of the First Guaranty Insurance Building should help the operation of Little River's county government, said Mike Cranford, county judge.

The recent purchase of the First Guaranty Insurance Building, a two-building campus across the street from the Little River County Courthouse in Ashdown, Ark., should help the operation of county government, a Little River official said.

Judge Mike Cranford said county government business has been conducted in the historic Little River County Courthouse for 110 years, but he and the Quorum Court are convinced the need exists for technological expansion and additional office space.

The total purchasing price was $423,000. Kirk Babb, who owned the building, donated $83,000 reducing the actual cost of the two-story building to $340,000.

The purchase includes the two buildings with 4,000 square feet and parking lots at 351 N. Third St.

The existing courthouse has become landlocked by churches and smaller offices, making parking a problem.

Cranford said voters have twice rejected building a new jail.

"We heard the voters loud and clear," he said.

But when state agencies said the jail lacked a kitchen, laundry and cells for women prisoners, the county had to "farm out" the kitchen and laundry services.

The space created by moving offices to the new building could be earmarked for kitchen and laundry additiuons. And the Guaranty building could be remodeled to house women prisoners instead of transferring them to Lafayette, Miller or Sevier county jails.

Cranford said the county can extend a loan to purchase the buildings and property. The loan was originally issued to renovate the jail in 2011 and 2012.

"It cost about $1.1 million to renovate the jail. We borrowed half and used the cash on hand. It strapped us badly and we had to extend the loan," he said.

The loan will be paid off in January, 2018. The monthly payments have been $11,000 a month.

The existing loan will be extended up to 60 months at 3.5 percent interest to cover the cost of purchasing the building. The monthly payment will remain about $11,000 a month.

The Guaranty building will probably be renovated to house the sheriff's department.

"Some of the deputies are working in offices the size of a toilet stall. There is no suitable alternative," Cranford said. Also, upgrades to the communications systems are needed for the dispatcher.

If everything develops according to plans, offices and storage space can be accommodated in the Guaranty building. Then eventually the jail can be expanded, he said.

Cranford also wants to renovate the historical courthouse.

"We're proud of the 110-year-old courthouse and it needs some love. It's an honor to work in the building, but it needs some repairs," he said.

The substructure of the floor has some soft spaces that need work, and the air conditioners need replacing.

He also is concerned that the annual Land O' Lights holiday tradition needs upgrading. Some of the outside lights are the original lights, which cost $14,000.

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