Canton Mayor Pat Smathers said town officials are considering offering the county a piece of land for the justice center and jail project.

Smathers said he will ask the Canton Town Board to go into closed session to discuss property acquisition when it meets on Tuesday (Oct. 23). If the board agrees, land just off Blackwell Drive could be offered to the county for a justice center and jail.

The county recently voted to move the project to Hazelwood after questions arose about the cost of putting it in downtown Waynesville and zoning problems.

Smathers said he still feels the downtown Waynesville site is the best, but if it is going to be moved he thinks the Canton site is a good alternative. Commissioners would merely have to vote to change the county seat to Canton, he said.

 

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