Council pauses decision on depot ownership, directs attorney to share records with outside counsel

After public requests and legal questions about who owns the historic depot building, the Oliver Springs council voted to have the city attorney provide documents in the town’s possession to attorney Bob Wilkinson (representing the historical society) and to schedule the matter for the second meeting in August for further consideration.

Cecil Crowe told the council he had asked an attorney and the National Historical Society to help determine ownership and requested access to the town’s records. Council discussion focused on allowing outside counsel time to review documents before the board acts. Zachary Osborn, who identified himself to the board and said he was with Owens’ office, advised that withholding a final position until Wilkinson reviews the records was prudent and would promote a less adversarial resolution.

Council also discussed an interim proposal that would revert the building-use agreement to a 1995 arrangement allowing the historical society use of two rooms while the library would use a third room. Members agreed to request that the city attorney deliver public records to Wilkinson and to set the question for the board’s second August meeting; the motion passed on roll call.

Council members emphasized good-faith cooperation and the value of resolving ownership without protracted litigation. The board did not make a final change in room assignments at the meeting and left the status quo in place while the legal review proceeds.