TOP PHOTO: A& B Holdings was once again discussed by commissioners, who said they plan to invite company representatives to answer questions at the next meeting, Monday, February 24th.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- A 30-year lease agreement between the county and A & B Holdings was once again a topic of discussion at Monday’s County Commission Workshop. According to commissioners, representatives from the company “were supposed to be at the workshop”. Commissioner Beverly Halls asked her fellow commissioners “what they wanted to do with the building and property”.

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Hall had originally brought the issue up at last month’s commission meeting, asking if representatives from A & B Holdings could come to the February workshop to answer questions about the lease agreement.

Commissioner Hall said the county is “not in the real estate business” and that the county “was not making money on it.” Hall suggested selling the building. She also suggested once again asked representatives from A & B Holdings to come to the next commission meeting to answer any questions.

Commissioner Dewayne Baird said he wanted company representatives to bring a copy of the sublease agreement as well, because he had questions about the contract.

The lease agreement in question was approved by the 1995 commission and then county mayor Tom Stiner. It was a 30-year lease agreement, with the option to extend the lease for another 30 years once the lease was up, which was due to occur this year. The agreement was renewed as of January 5th, with no action required by the commission as it was in the terms of the original agreement that company A & B Holdings had the option at its discretion to renew the lease as long as the company gave a one-year notification of intent to do so. A & B Holdings did so in November of 2023, according to documents provided by the county.

The building located on the property that is leased has housed various manufacturing businesses in the past such as Camel, which built tents, PACA, and now is home to BSH’s research and development with “right at 50 employees” working there.

At last month’s meeting Commissioner Hall said that it was “nothing against the Arnolds or the Bowers”, but that she didn’t think it was “fair that the building was a 61,000 square foot building on a 8.79 acre lot and that all the county was getting was their taxes were being paid.”

According to County Attorney Joe Coker, If the county decides to sell or transfer the property, the county must prior to the sale or transfer notify A & B Holdings, which has the right of first refusal on buying the property.

The issue will be discussed again at the next workshop, which is scheduled for February 24th at 6 pm. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/11/2025-6AM)

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