Ringgold Telephone Company may be moving soon, but not far.

General Manager Phil Erli said Nov. 12 that he hopes to close later this month on the purchase of the Tapistron International building located on Ga. 151 south of Ringgold.

The move will enable the company to move its headquarters to the 52,000 square feet facility, more than tripling its space from the current 16,000 square feet facility on Nashville Street.

“We are also moving all of our operations out of the buildings at the end of Sparks Street and the people across the street from the business office will also be moving,” he said.

Erli said the move could come as early as next summer depending on the completion date for planned renovations.

“We want to make a more attractive front lobby for our customers,” he said. “We are planning on putting in a number of demonstration rooms so our customers can see our (NexTV). We also want to demonstrate the type of wiring they should have in their homes.

“We are kind of looking at having a home of the future area that would show technology and what is needed as far as infrastructure to make that work,” he said.

Erli said that Ringgold Telephone Company will not lose its presence in downtown Ringgold as a result of the move. The company will maintain business offices in two locations.

“The beauty of this building is it is in the city limits of Ringgold, and with what we have downtown we can still maintain a business office there,” he said. “That is important because we want to support the downtown area. We are extremely excited and hope it will give our customers in that area better access to us.”

He said that if the company does not sell its current facility, a business office to serve customers could remain there. If the company does sell its Nashville Street office, a business office will be opened at the Evitt Building downtown next to the Courthouse, which houses its switching facility.

Erli offered Catoosa County commissioners a chance to purchase its Nashville Street location as a way to assist with county office space problems.

Commissioners discussed the offer on Nov. 11, and Erli said he was told the county was not interested.

Catoosa County Board of Commissioners Chairman Winford Long said in the meeting the appraised value is $736,000.

Commissioner Pat Page said she believed the building would require renovations, and the county could probably build a building for the cost of those renovations. After discussion, commissioners chose to pass on the offer