BROOKHAVEN — Local businessman John Lynch shared digital renderings of the future for Brookhaven’s City Hall at 101 Chickasaw Street. One shows the potential to transform the land around a new city hall. 

At this time, the City is in negotiations with Lincoln County to move out of the courthouse and with Lynch to lease the space at 101 Chickasaw Street. 

Lynch pointed out a handful of reasons why the building would be a benefit to citizens and city hall. 

The old funeral home is in a more central downtown location, has a larger parking lot and it is a national historic registry building being repurposed. Lynch said it has a modern electronic access for improved security, a drive thru for water department bill payments, a new city court room, spacious public board room with potential for economic development and a new park. 

“101 Chickasaw LLC is excited to be a part of continuing to help the local community,” Lynch said.

Background on the move

It is important to know the County did not ask the city to leave, but did want to be prepared for when the city left. Under a 1980 interlocal agreement, the County has to buy out the 20 percent stake of the City in the courthouse. 

Brookhaven’s Board of Aldermen voted to enter negotiations with Lynch to lease the former Hartman-Harrigill Funeral Home at 101 Chicksaw Street for City Offices in May. 

Andre Spiller, an alderman speaking as a citizen for the second meeting in a row, questioned the move. Mayor Joe Cox answered his questions in a city Board of Alderman meeting Tuesday.