Polk County has offered the school system $205,000 to purchase the school bus garage to relocate the county transportation department. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met May 2 and following a closed session agreed to go under contract on the purchase.

The county has a due diligence period of six months on the contract in order to receive cost estimates to renovate the building.

The school bus garage is located on 4.09 acres on Locust St. in Columbus and includes a building and a shed.

Last October commissioners approved the school board spending $309,500 of the school’s fund balance to purchase the Stott property, located behind Stearns Education Center to relocate the school bus operations.

School officials said last year the consolidation of all its operations to the Stearns property would benefit the schools over time. The new school bus garage location is located at 144 Hampton Street, Columbus.

Polk County’s transportation is currently located in the courthouse annex buildings downtown. The Town of Columbus has expressed concern for years about the county’s buses taking up key parking downtown.