Staff report

SALISBURY — A several-months-long bidding war ended Feb. 7 after no one topped a $100,000 offer to buy Rowan County’s vacant building at 1236 W. Innes St.

The fate of the building, which once housed the Department of Social Services and other county offices, will now be up to the Board of Commissioners.

James Sauls Jr. submitted the highest bid. County commissioners can decide whether to accept the offer or take some other action.

Commissioners once offered the building to the Rowan-Salisbury Schools for use as a central office. A local church offered $300,000, but that sale fell through. After questioning whether the land would be more valuable as a vacant piece of property, commissioners considered demolishing the building. The most recent bidding war started in September with a $20,000 offer.

In addition to the former county office building, Sauls’ $100,000 offer is for a large, adjacent parking lot.

The commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. in the county administration building.