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Old Millboro school decision delayed again
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
 | | The fate of the old Millboro school campus remains up in the air this week. Bath supervisors agreed to another 90-day hold on a decision about whether to keep the property in county hands or sell it to Spectrum Design for apartments. (Recorder filephoto) |
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WARM SPRINGS - John Garland of Spectrum Associates sat patiently for almost fivehours Tuesday waiting for Bath supervisors to get to scheduled action on the old Millboro school campus only to agree to wait another 90 days while a citizen group from the Millboro area attempts to put together an alternative plan for the buildings.
Garland, whose company presented the only plan for the buildings in response to a county request for proposals, offered to help the committee navigate what he said were complex rules for using tax credits to renovate historic structures.
The citizen committee charged with coming up with a plan for the structures which would keep ownership with the county will apparently be headed by Millboro resident Jackie Plecker. Plecker presented a petition with more than 500 signatures asking the county to not spend money on the buildings and then give them away.
Plecker said she wanted to the county to see "what we can get in the way of grants and keep the property in the county." The buildings and land should be used for the benefit of the people in the county and in Millboro, she said.
"If we can't get it going, I'll be the first to tell you," Plecker said. Noting she didn't often need to do so, she said if she and the community could not put together an alternative to the proposal by Spectrum, "I'll say you was right and I was wrong."
The board appeared to be prepared to vote on the proposal by Spectrum to convert the buildings into apartment and business officespace. The contract has been under negotiation for months and those negotiations continued during an executive session prior to the regular meeting.
The Spectrum contract was on the agenda near the end in the section for action following a closed session. Millboro supervisor Carol Hardbarger moved to approve the revised contract with Spectrum. Under the terms of that contract, Spectrum would do the required engineering studies for the removal of asbestos and demolition of the center section of the buildings which are wood frame and in poor condition.
After the engineering plans were complete, the county would have the option to cancel the contract, pay for the engineering study and proceed as it desired. If the county continued the contract, Spectrum would absorb the cost of the engineering, the county would pay for the asbestos abatement and demolition and then the property would be turned over to Spectrum for historical renovation.
Williamsville supervisor Stuart Hall proposed a substitute motion containing so many clauses, he and the board agreed to rely on the meeting recording for the exact wording. Basically his motion would reject the Spectrum deal, bid the asbestos removal and then have a citizen group formed to use tax credits to stabilize the buildings. BARC electric cooperative is also interested in renting part of the buildings, he said, and that rent would offset taxes the Spectrum deal would have paid, and help offset the maintenance and repair cost.
Supervisor Richard Byrd said he had changed his mind on how he was going to vote on the proposal in the face of the 500 names on the petition and the plea by Plecker to let the community have another chance.
Byrd said "a magic wand" wasn't going to take care of all the problems associated with the building but on the other hand "540 signatures told me not to give away the property."
"We've kept it for 17 years; let's take another gander," Byrd said. He suggested creating the committee to come up with a plan within 90 days. At the end of that time, the county would weigh the two proposals and select the best option.
Chairman Jon Trees wanted the motion to specify the Spectrum proposal would be automatically approved if the committee could not develop a viable proposal with financing in that time.
"Personally, I believe we are not going to get a better deal than this," Trees said, holding up the Spectrum contract. But he voted with the other supervisors to approve the 90-day option with consideration of Spectrum and any alternative plans.
Trees asked Garland if the Spectrum deal would still be on the table in 90 days. "I think the 90 days is a good idea," Garland replied. "If they come up with an idea that works, I'll be all for it." If the group forms a (non-profit organization) to save the buildings and has a viable plan, "I'd support and we'd walk away," he said.
Garland noted the buildings are "a mess, it is horrendous." He volunteered to help the group or committee with the use of historic tax credits and the details of historic renovation.
"Nothing is going to happen to that building unless it is renovated," Garland said.
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