CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Montgomery County Commission Monday postponed a vote on buying what is known as the Bank of America building at 215 Legion Street in downtown Clarksville. A resolution was before commissioners to purchase the Bank of America property for just under $1 million as a site for a proposed Civic Plaza.

Commissioner John Gannon made a motion for an amendment and the vote was 11-9 to defer a vote on purchasing the property until the commission’s next formal meeting September 14. “I think we should see what kind of cooperation that we are going to get out of the city and what’s going to happen to line ourselves up and to make sure that we get it right and we do it right. If the city doesn’t get involved, then so be it, well then we know what we have to do for that downtown park,” said Gannon.

At their regular meeting Thursday, August 6 the Clarksville City Council voted to postpone a vote on buying the property until the next regular meeting of the council September 3. At that meeting some council members expressed concern about what plans Montgomery County had for purchasing the property.

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County Mayor Jim Durrett commented on a paragraph in the resolution that mentioned a possible agreement with the City of Clarksville on the property. Durrett said he had made an effort to try and work out a partnership with the city and that effort had not been successful.

Some commissioners brought up the possibility of a meeting between the County Commission and the City Council on working together on the purchase and future of the property but Mayor Durrett said he did not feel comfortable calling a joint session of the county and city.

Mayor Durrett added that he communicates with Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and he has heard what her opinion was on the property and I think it’s time to move forward. Commissioner Gannon encouraged members of the City Council present at the commission meeting to help work out a joint session of the city and county to talk about the property.