WJRS NEWS has learned that
the Russell County Industrial Development Authority recently filed a civil
action in Russell Circuit Court alleging breach of contract by the sellers of
property the Development Authority had contracted to buy. The Industrial Development Authority
contracted in September, 2018 to buy land known as “the former Russell County
Airport property”, located just off Airport Road in Jamestown, for a purchase
price of $305,000.00. The property had
in recent years been used as a dragstrip.
The land deal has not closed,
and no deed has been executed. However,
the local development authority has paid a $10,000 deposit and has spent just
over $7,000 for survey, environmental assessment, and preliminary master plan
for future development, according to Bennie Garland, Executive Director of the
Industrial Development Authority.
Garland says no money has been expended yet for improvements to the
site.
H. K. Cooper, a local
attorney who represents the development authority, says a court hearing is
scheduled for later this month in Bullitt County as part of the ongoing legal
battle.