The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in special session at 6:30 PM, Thursday, January 30, 2003 at the Town Hall. David Sorokoty called the meeting to order. David Sorokoty, President; David Drake, Vice-President; Ray Freetage, Geraldine McIntyre and Lisa Combs-Creech were in attendance. Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer was also present. Ray Freetage led in prayer.
Topic of Discussion: Old Elementary School
Supervisors Present: Jim Davis, Jim Ragle, Mike Farmer and Ron McGlocklin were present.
Old Elementary School Site – 9.27 acres, zoned
Commercial C-1 and is not in flood zone.
David Sorokoty
requested Rick Coppock with Bynum
Fanyo & Associates prepare an overview feasibility study of the
school. Rick explained that he looked
at the cost the school is currently incurring since the school is vacant. It is all subject to how the school is
maintaining the building. He learned
from Superintendent Steve Kain the school was 105,000 square feet and they are
currently maintaining a temperature of 55 degrees in the school.
Rick made a
spreadsheet of data from the information collected by Sandra Hash for the gas
and electric bills, but the bills are from when the school was occupied. The gas for eight months was approximately
$200 a month for a subtotal of $1,600.
The other four winter months were approximately $2,400 per month for a
subtotal of $9,600 a year, making a grand total of approximately $11,200 for
the year. The electric bill for eight
months was $800 a month for a subtotal of $6,400. The other four winter months were $2,100 a month for a subtotal
of $8,400, for a grand total of approximately $14,800 a year. Rick explained that Sandra had spoken with
Regina Haverly from the May Agency about different insurance options for the
building. Regina is looking into
limited coverage or liability insurance for the building. The most expensive type of insurance would
be replacement insurance. The last
estimated valuation of the building was $9.8 million, so the cost for
replacement insurance for the year would be $24,500, which would be used in the
case of a disaster such as tornado or fire damage where the entire building
would be replaced.
Rick said he
also looked at grounds and maintenance charges to maintain the school
property. He spoke to Jim Ragle about
mowing and trimming which would take around 3 hours to mow and 9 hours to trim
per week. Rick figured an average
employee labor rate with benefits at a cost of approximately $1,800 a year to
mow and $5,400 a year to trim for a total of $7,200 a year. He compared the wear and tear on equipment
to using an equipment rental company, which cost approximately $2,400 a year
for mowers and $2,800 a year for trimmers for a total of $5,200 a year. It would cost the Town a grand total of
approximately $12,400 a year to maintain the grounds.
The school had
an appraisal of the building and property, which was prepared, by Vincel
Appraisal Services and the appraised value is $463,500 and a demolition cost of
$310,000. Weddle Brothers’ estimate to
demolish the building had only included the cost for the refrigerant removal
and had not included the cost of the asbestos removal. The asbestos would have to be removed which
would increase the cost to demolish the building. A letter from Dana Kerr with Bynum Fanyo Environmental gave a
list of things to consider for environmental reasons.
David Sorokoty
stated the Council was not going to make any decisions on buying the school
tonight. This session was to gather and
compile more information. He then
opened the floor for comments and discussion.
David Drake gave his opinion saying if it only cost $1 to buy the school from the school corporation
it would be a good idea, but he wondered how much it would cost to remodel and
maintain the building. He wanted to
know where the Town would find the money or budget for such an expense. If purchased, the Town could use their work
force, so the cost of demolishing might be less. If the Town didn’t buy it and a corporation did, then he said it
could go on to the tax rolls. If it
were not sold, it would just sit vacant and become an eyesore. Another concern was if it were sold to the
Town, what type of restrictions the school corporation might place on the
facility? He concluded by saying it
seems too good of a deal to pass up for just $1, but there are a lot of issues
and other expenses that might go along with such a deal. He is not against it, but there are a lot of
unknowns that still need to be worked out and considered.
David Sorokoty said one of the restrictions was not to
use it as a school. He heard a comment
from Mayor Fernandaz that the downtown area of your town is a measuring stick
of what your town is like. In other
words the downtown area is a reflection of growth. Currently our downtown area is uninviting, cold, trashy, there
are bad sidewalks and broken glass.
There is a failure to keep businesses downtown. The Council has two options for the Town the
first being do nothing and eventually be a suburb of Bloomington or do
something and start renovating and rejuvenating the Town and community. We need to encourage businesses and
suggested rewarding existing businesses so they can reinvest in themselves or
get tax abatements. He also proposed setting
up a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in the downtown area to encourage
economic growth in the Town. He said to
buy and use this school site to build on would be a step in the right direction
to encourage new businesses. He
mentioned the website for the Hilly Hundred had been getting a lot of feedback
and this indicates many possibilities for economic growth. The Town needs to take advantage of this
opportunity so that Ellettsville grows and maintains its identity. He mentioned some of the ideas this school
property could be used for such as a Farmer’s Market, the home of the Fall
Festival, a one-stop municipal building, a post office, a new larger library
site, a YMCA, a mini convention center, hotel site, a street mall, a town
square with a fountain, a gym for kids and adults and finally after school
programs for children while their parents are still at work. He does not want to see this building set
idle when there are so many possibilities and so much potential. This building is “a diamond in the rough”
regardless of how it’s used or whom it’s used by. However, he is concerned that if a commercial business would get
the building, there could be a possibility of a business the Town doesn’t want. He would like to see a downtown where people
could take a walk and shop in a friendly atmosphere. The Town is going to grow and the big question is how are we
going to let it grow? He ended by
saying we can grow and still have that small town feeling. We need to preserve this piece of history,
the school gym for example, for generations to come.
Sandra Hash
said Jack Neal was unable to attend
tonight’s meeting but he asked her to share his opinion at the meeting. He said that he felt the Town should take
care the roadways and the things municipalities should take care of and not try
to make a recreational area, go into business or offer office space. He did not feel the Town was financially
equipped to take on such a project.
Lisa Combs-Creech said she had driven past several small
towns and she noticed from last November to now several businesses along the
way that were operating then are now closed.
In order to draw in business one needs to advertise, even if on a
failing downslide because something will eventually come of perseverance. If the Town wants to encourage visitors and
potential economic growth they should not leave the school sitting vacant. The Town would be putting out a bad
advertising image. It is all in one’s
perspective like the analogy of whether you look at a glass as half full or as
half empty. The Council needs to look
at it as the glass is half full and what is it going to take to make this
work. She suggested getting partners to
help in utilizing the school and sharing the cost. It would be preserving a building and setting a precedent at the
same time. People will want to return
to Ellettsville for the historic
nature of the
building, specifically the gym. She
invited anyone who was interested in being a partner on this venture to contact
her either by phone or e-mail. She
wants to look at the potential and all of the options first before dismissing
this opportunity.
Geraldine McIntyre reminded the Council that Bill Cook was
willing to renovate the downtown years ago back in the late 1970’s. He wanted to buy the downtown and make
shopping centers, but the Town turned him down because Geraldine said the
“forefathers” or “old timers” didn’t want to see the stage taken down and they
didn’t want Cook buying and owning the property. She feels that was the beginning of Ellettsville’s down fall
because Cook would have invested a lot of money in the shopping center and
downtown. She agreed that the Council
should not write the school property off yet, but she remembered Mr. Kain
saying at a meeting that the school’s utility bills when up and running were
around $88,000 a year.
Sandra Hash requested permission to contact our
Accountants to have them review the Town’s finances to see it would be
affordable if we were to incur the expense of owning the school. David Sorokoty okayed her to contact
Umbaugh.
Ed Bitner brought up the cable franchise fee
increase from 3% to 5% saying he thought the Council had okayed hidden fees for
cable and he thought there might be hidden fees if the school was
purchased. He asked where the money was
going to come from to pay the bills for the school?
David Sorokoty explained there weren’t any hidden bills
for cable or any topic the Council discusses, that everything is decided in the
Council Meetings that are open to the public, which is one reason the meetings
are televised. In order for CATS to
televise the Council meetings live there would have to be an increase in the
franchise fee on citizens cable bills to pay for the additional access
lines. He would like to have the meetings
live so the public would understand how government works and see there are no
hidden agendas. He went on to explain
if the Town would acquire the school property there were options for funding
the project such as the $24,000 budgeted for an Administrative Assistant that
was no longer needed. The Council would
review the figures from Umbaugh and research the idea further before making a
decision. The Council is a conservative
group and they wouldn’t jeopardize the Town financially by purchasing the
school if they didn’t think it could work.
Chuck Radke is originally from Wisconsin but chose the
Bloomington / Ellettsville area to retire because he had heard that it was a
good location for retirees. He asked
where is the money going to come from because there will be the cost of a new
design and new technology so he questioned if fiscally the Town can afford
it. He’s concerned about fiscal
responsibility and if the Town might fall into a money pit with this
project.
Dennis Williamson who works for the Monroe County Health
Department stated that if you controlled the humidity in the school building
then the mold could be controlled.
Thanked the Council for having this session and listening to the public’s
opinion.
Ray Freetage said he toured the school building
today. He was on the School Board when
the improvements were made from the library to the cafeteria/kitchen. He is not an expert on heating, air conditioning
or mold but he couldn’t find any mold.
In fact, he was impressed at the overall condition the school was still
in but it needs cleaned badly. He
disputed the rumor that the gym was in need of repair; he said the gym looks in
good shape. The school is doing a good
job of maintaining the building. He was
enthused about the possibilities, however, he didn’t know if the Town would be
able to afford the school. The actual
cost for utilities from January to December for 2002 was $51,260 and the school
was in use from January to the end of May or the beginning of June for
2002. He saw both sides of this project
but advised they should
look at this
project more logically with their heads due to the finances and not as
sentimentally with their hearts.
Darlyne Sowder, President of the Parks and Recreation
Board announced that Denise Knell volunteered to serve on the Board for the
next four years if approved by the Council.
Ray Freetage moved to accept appointing Denise Nell for the Parks and
Recreation Board for four years.
Geraldine McIntyre seconded.
Motion carried.
Sandra Hash explained after Karla Frownfelter was
appointed to the Animal Control Board that she received a call from a Monroe
County Attorney stating that Chuck Pate’s commission had not expired yet and he
was the current President of the Animal Control Board. Sandra explained that the Council had never
had contact with Mr. Pate during the entire time he has been the appointee and
that he lives on Walker Lane in Bean Blossom Township, which is not within the
Town’s limits. The Attorney assured
Sandra that Mr. Pate had done a fine job and had the Town’s best interest in
mind. She also informed Sandra that Mr.
Pate is very qualified for this position because he owns Wayport Kennels and it
doesn’t matter whether he lives in the Town and referred to the Monroe County
Code chapter 440. The Attorney
suggested Sandra contact Mr. Pate and request that he be more visible to the
Council. Sandra explained the situation
to Karla and she is still willing to attend the meetings and participate and
would keep the Council informed but she could not vote. This would allow Karla to learn how the
Board works, so when Mr. Pate’s term expires if the Council wanted to they
could appoint Karla. Today Sandra
decided to call the County Commissioner’s office. They said Mr. Pate’s term actually expired on December 31,
2002. The Council all agreed that Karla
was their pick. So David Sorokoty
officially reappointed Karla to the Board.
Adjournment
David
Sorokoty closed the meeting at 7:43 p. m.
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty, President David Drake, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Lisa Creech-Combs Ray Freetage
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash, Clerk-Treasurer