COUNTY BUYS SERVICE STATION

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission has purchased a former service station adjacent to the county jail.

Commissioners agreed Monday to buy the property for $65,000. The sale is contingent upon the seller, FFP Partners of Fort Worth, Texas, meeting environmental requirements by removing the underground fuel tanks.

"We've been trying to buy it for 3 1/2 years," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones.

The owner initially wanted too high a price for the property at the corner of Washington and Highway 61, Jones said.

County officials had considered putting an archive center on the property. But the county already has cleared another tract for construction of an archive center.

At this point, county officials haven't made any final plans for the corner property, which sits across the street from the courthouse.

The vacant building may be torn down and the site turned into a parking lot, Jones said.

Commissioners have pointed out that there is a need for added parking for county employees.

The commission said the boarded up building is an eyesore.

"We will fix it up or remove it," Jones said.