The former Troup County Emergency 911 Center on Broad Street now has a new purpose.

The underground space is set to become a new storage area for the Troup County Historical Society, County Manager Mike Dobbs said at a county work session Friday. Commissioners are expected to approve a $1 annual lease agreement at their meeting Tuesday.

“We’re the largest user of the archives simply because of all the court records we have to store, some of which have to be maintained for decades and decades,” Dobbs said. “This is really a win-win because we have the space available, and they are able to maintain them. The area really lends itself well for the storage of records.”

Kaye Minchew, director of the Troup County Archives for the historical society, said the new space mostly will house county and government records from the court, sheriff and district attorney offices. Virtually all the records aren’t permanent but will need to be maintained for 20 to 35 years.

“It’s a good use of space because it’s underground, so it’s perfect for the storage of records, and it’s convenient to both us and the county,” she said.

Not only is Troup County is the biggest user of the archives, Michew said, but it also creates the largest amount of records.

The historical society will pay utilities and provide the shelving and rolling files needed to store the records, Dobbs said. The space is covered under county insurance.

The county acquired the underground space from the Citizens and Southern National Bank in 1986 for $10. Originally a vault, the bank built the reinforced concrete and steel area in 1962 at 303 Broad St. It is about 6,500 square feet.

Troup County E-911 took its first call there in December 1987 and moved a year ago to its new headquarters at the Troup County Government Center.

The historical society plans to move into the space immediately after the lease agreement is signed Tuesday, Minchew said.

In other matters, the commission is expected to approve a policy statement and resolution at next week’s meeting that establishes a county safety coordinator to oversee loss prevention efforts.

Dexter Wells, warden of the county Correctional Institute, has been tapped for the position because his department’s eight-year safety efforts have resulted in a significant decrease in work-related accidents.

Wells said 41 workers were injured in Troup County last year, which resulted in a $378,000 cost in workers’ compensation claims.

Also in Friday’s work session, the commission announced it would join with the Board of Education to hold a surplus auction April 23 at the school system’s transportation department at 100 N. Davis Road. Gates will open at 8 a.m., and the auction begins at 10 a.m.

Items include vehicles, typewriters, printers, tax machines, televisions, cameras, computer components, file cabinets and copy machines.

Natalie Shelton can be reached at nshelton@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311 Ext. 229.