Scotland County Moves Forward With Purchase of Former Bank Building for Government Offices
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MEMPHIS, Mo. (May 3, 2025) — The Scotland County Commission is moving forward with the purchase of the former U.S. Bank building in downtown Memphis, citing a growing need for office space and long-term cost savings for county government.
The 8,600-square-foot building, located at 231 S. Market St., was formerly a U.S. Bank branch and comes with a large parking lot, multiple vaults and office furnishings. The county agreed to purchase the property for $250,000, plus closing costs. A $6,360 deposit was paid on April 16 to initiate the process, with closing expected within 30 to 60 days.
“We’re running out of room in the courthouse for offices and storage,” said Presiding Commissioner Duane Ebeling.
This purchase gives the county the space it needs without raising taxes or taking on debt. Money will not have to be borrowed to purchase the building.
The commissioners said the building was originally listed at $212,000, but rising interest led the bank to increase the asking price to $250,000 shortly after the county submitted an initial offer. The county then revised its offer to match the new price.
The purchase is being funded through existing reserves and budgeted capital improvement funds. According to county officials, $200,000 had already been allocated in the 2025 budget for property acquisition, and another $50,000 is coming from the county’s courthouse capital improvements fund, on top of an additional $30,000 set aside for a facility study.
Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission will conduct the space-use study to determine how best to utilize the building and which offices should relocate there. Commissioners said the building could potentially house several departments, and some offices may be able to move in immediately due to the building’s turnkey condition.
“We had it inspected by an engineering firm, and they said it was well worth the money,” said Ebeling.
“The only part of the space we would have to work on is if we open up the basement to use it for any office space or anything, because it’s not ADA compliant,” said Eastern District Commissioner Brent Rockhold.
The bank is expected to remove only the ATM and data servers, leaving behind desks, chairs, file cabinets and other furnishings.
Commissioners said public response to the purchase has been mostly positive, though a few questions have been raised.
“I had one phone call,” said Wiggins. “He said the government shouldn’t be bidding against him on the building. That’s the only negative comment I’ve received.”
“The only blowback I’ve gotten is just people asking what we’re going to do with the building now that it’s public that we’ve signed the option,” Ebeling added.
While the courthouse remains structurally sound and will continue to serve as the county’s central government building, commissioners noted that maintenance and insurance costs are rising. Insurance on the courthouse increased by 70% this year, with the premium jumping from $81,540 to $145,301, which county officials attributed to the building’s age.
Officials said the new building is not intended to replace the courthouse but rather serve as an annex.
“I hope this [courthouse] building stands for another 50 years,” said Western District Commissioner David Wiggins. “Structurally, right now, I consider this building in excellent shape for its age.”
They also emphasized the cost-effectiveness of purchasing an existing commercial building over renovating aging properties or constructing new facilities.
“I think this is a very good long-term investment for us,” said Rockhold. “It puts a little more pressure on us for making the move, but it’s something I think really needed to be done.”
“It’s very cost effective. We’re seeing other places struggling to remodel old courthouses,” said Wiggins. “Adair County spent over $8 million on their courthouse. That’s scary when you think about it. It requires bonds and elections and more taxes. This way we can purchase, and we have a building without increasing our tax.”
The commission expects to finalize the purchase this summer and hopes to begin relocating some offices by the end of the year.
Reporter’s Note: Watch a video of the Scotland County Commission answering questions about the building acquisition during their regularly scheduled public meeting held Thursday, May 1, 2025, on YouTube @TheEdinaSentinel.
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