Rock barn purchase with Fulton Heritage Trust falls through

City still plans to close deal with state April 4

The deal for the City of Fulton purchase the historic rock barn from the state was cast into jeopardy when plans to split costs with the Fulton Heritage Trust fell through, but the council ultimately agreed to go forward with the now-$18,000 transaction to preserve the barn and search for a buyer.
The deal for the City of Fulton purchase the historic rock barn from the state was cast into jeopardy when plans to split costs with the Fulton Heritage Trust fell through, but the council ultimately agreed to go forward with the now-$18,000 transaction to preserve the barn and search for a buyer.

Plans for the City of Fulton to purchase the historic rock barn at Fulton State Hospital were jeopardized when an agreement to split costs with the Fulton Heritage Trust fell out, Mayor LeRoy Benton told the council at Tuesday night's meeting.

Ultimately, however, the council agreed to move forward with the purchase of the barn and the 12 acres of surrounding land.

The council had originally agreed to put in half of the $18,000 price tag to buy the barn from the state at the Jan. 8, 2013 council meeting with the understanding that the Fulton Heritage Trust was putting in $9,000. Since then, the Heritage Trust put more stipulations on the agreement, to which the council didn't want to agree.

"They wanted the authority to approve modifications and improvements to meet certain design and historical criteria," said City Administrator Bill Johnson. "We wanted to preserve it, they wanted to restore it, and that's more costly."