Project plans approved by Pickett County Commissioners for the old Byrdstown Methodist Church remodel.
The property will be transformed into a senior center and county office space. County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said floor plans for the renovations and 3,500 square foot addition mark an investment in senior citizens.
“Our senior citizens are just one of our greatest assets in our community,” Bilbrey said. “They’ve served their time working and providing for the county. And now, it’s just time you know, the county give back to them and gives them a great place to go. A safe place to go where they can gather together.”
Bilbrey said now that the plan has been approved, architects and engineers will get to work on preparing the bid package and other project plans. Bilbrey said he hopes approve bids in November. Bilbrey said once the bids are approved and contracts are signed, work can begin.
Bilbrey said the work could begin by mid-December, and the project will take around ten months to complete. Bilbrey said October of 2026 is the anticipated completion date.
The property was donated to the county several years ago, Bilbrey said the county has been working on grant funding. Bilbrey said a $1.9 million grant has since been received to cover the renovations and addition. Bilbrey said the county will match some $230,000.
Bilbrey said the part of the building that will house the senior center does not need much work. Bilbrey said some walls may need to be moved in that space, and there may also be a need for new paint and flooring. Bilbrey said most of the work at the existing building will be done in the sanctuary, where offices will be moved.
Bilbrey said six or seven offices will go in the sanctuary, and a drop ceiling will be installed. As for the expansion, Bilbrey said it will be built on the Dairy Queen side of the sanctuary.
“It’ll house about six offices,” Bilbrey said. “It’ll have a meeting-type room in there, kind of a community type room. There will also be a kitchen in there for UT Extension to use.”
Bilbrey said the UT Extension and UCHRA are among the entities that may be re-located to the church building upon its completion.
Bilbrey said other offices are currently housed in the community center, which has become crowded. Bilbrey said the community center was built in the 1970s and has been renovated, but there are lots of issues. Bilbrey said that facility may be repurposed after the church building project is done.
“We’re going to hopefully move the courtroom, Sheriff’s Department, judge’s office, and some other offices down to the current community center,” Bilbrey said. “Which will alleviate some pressures that we’re feeling here in the courthouse with not having enough room.”
