|
Bath board offers tentative support for Millboro group
By Mike Bollinger • Staff Writer
 | | The Millboro Preservation and Cultural Association has continued to make residents aware of its effort to renovate the old school buildings, including with this sign at one entrance to town prior to Tuesday night's decision-making meeting of the Bath County Board of Supervisors for the project to go forward or be awarded to an outside developer. (Recorder photo by Gina Hamilton) |
|
WARM SPRINGS - The fate of the old Millboro school campus has been undecided for some time, and it will remain so for another month.
The Bath County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to postpone action on whether to allow the Millboro Preservation and Cultural Association Inc., a group of area citizens who want to oversee the campus' restoration, or to have Millboro Green, a corporation formed by Spectrum Design of Roanoke, handle the project.
A decision is now scheduled for the supervisors' Aug. 12 meeting.
The decision to postpone a vote came at the request of chairman Jon Trees. Trees, in Nebraska due to a family emergency, e-mailed board members and asked the decision be put off until the August meeting when he can attend. Since decisions have been delayed at the request of other board members who have been forced to miss meetings, the supervisors honored Trees' request.
Presiding over the meeting in Trees' absence, vice chairman Richard Byrd said supervisors have been working to determine how to rehabilitate the school since discussions began in August 2006. In 2007, three public hearings and a public meeting were held and a request for proposals was advertised.
Only one proposal was received, from Spectrum, in June 2007. In November of that year, the board decided to hold negotiations with Spectrum and met with the firm in December 2007. As the result, Spectrum submitted a proposed contract. Millboro Green later submitted a second version.
On April 8, discussion of the proposed contract with Millboro Green was on the board's agenda. At that meeting, Jackie Plecker, now co-chair of the citizens' group, asked the board to give the group a chance to develop a plan for the property. The board granted a 90-day period for the group to present a plan with financing to the board.
At that meeting, John Garland of Millboro Green said he would hold his proposal open during the 90-day period and offered his help to the citizens' group.
Tuesday, Plecker presented an overview of what the Millboro Preservation and Cultural Association Inc. has accomplished during the past 90 days. "We hit the ground running the very next day after you gave us 90 days," Plecker told the board.
Plecker said the corporation was formed with plans to preserve school. The group obtained a federal tax identification number and contacted school alumni and local supporters of the project. As of Tuesday, $82,500 had been raised. "I think that's very good," she said.
Two organizations have been contacted about tax credits, and Plecker said after a walk-through, representatives were impressed with the buildings and thought the project would qualify. State and federal tax credit programs for preserving historic buildings are administered in Virginia through the Department of Historic Resources. The Millboro school is listed with the state as a historic property.
In the first phase of the project, Plecker said, the gymnasium and elementary school classrooms would be restored. The classrooms would be turned into office space available for local rental, she said. In addition, she said a commitment has been received from the Shenandoah Valley Partnership to try to place incubator businesses in those offices. Also as part of phase one, Plecker said other buildings would be stabilized in order to stop leaks and further damage.
Phase two would focus on the original high school building, which has eight large classrooms. Plecker said these would be turned into apartments for retired people and senior citizens. "We have been told that grants are available for anything that has 'senior citizens' attached to it," she said.
The third phase would involve restoring the home economics building. That building would be made into a museum in conjunction with the Bath County Historical Society, Plecker said. Phase three could possibly be done in conjunction with phase one, Plecker said. "We have craftsmen in the area who have said they will help with that (home ecomomics) building," she said.
Work has begun on having the group obtain 501(c)(3) non-profit status, but Plecker said they must be in control of the property before that can take place. She also said the group has researched several grant applications, but again must have the property before these can proceed.
Jessica Ligon, a member of the Millboro Preservation and Cultural Association Inc., said she moved from Nelson County where an old elementary school has been restored. She said the county Cooperative Extension Office uses the facility and the gymnasium there is rented out for concerts and other events.
"It has done really well. It has gotten a good reception from the local people, and I would like to see the same thing happen here," Ligon said.
Eight people spoke in favor of having the local group take over the project. Keene Byrd of the Bath County Historical Society said the society has passed a resolution in support of the project and has several members from the Millboro area. "The school at one time played a central role in Millboro, and this group can make that so once again," he said.
Olivia Haney questioned if Spectrum was awarded the project, could it be postponed due to the current economic situation. "We want something done to the building. There is a big hole in the band building and the area has become a curiosity site for young people," she said.
"I can't see how the board can go against a community that has come together like they have and presented a plan," John Mabry said.
"Our project is from the heart, not the billfold," Gary Smith said. "We are trying to help the community save the building. This group is a lot more committed than they (Spectrum) ever were. If they start losing money, they'll drop it."
While not a Millboro area resident, Carl Chestnut said he believes the people in Millboro should have the chance to restore the school. "They deserve a chance because they are taxpayers in Bath County," he said.
"If you give it to us, we can make a real go of it," said Dennis Forbes.
Supervisor Stuart Hall has attended several of the Millboro group's meetings. "I have watched that county pull together like you wouldn't believe," Hall said. "They have worked hard to raise money. They are good, dedicated people and solid citizens over there and they deserve a chance to do this project."
Supervisor Carol Hardbarger, who represents Millboro District, said she was proud to see so many citizens from the area in attendance. She said she has not totally made up her mind on what is the right thing to do with the school. "My primary concern is to look at all aspects, not only what is right for Millboro but for the other taxpayers in the county as well. I have concerns about liability issues and financing," Hardbarger said.
"I am also concerned about the hearts of the people in the community. I am impressed with what you have done as a group and I thank you for the professional way you have presented yourselves," she continued.
Supervisor Percy Nowlin said it was heartening to see the Millboro group get together as it has done on the school project.
Byrd was elected to the board in 1991, and the school has been a topic of conversation ever since. "It's good to see people at the meeting and trying to do something to save the school," he said. "Our board is here to listen to you. That is what we are elected to do. Some people we have to listen to are not as nice as you."
In addition to the Millboro group, discussion of the proposed contract with Millboro Green was also on Tuesday's agenda. Hall expressed his appreciation for Spectrum's interest in the project. However, Hall said it is becoming more and more important to him that its plans are not what the people in the Millboro community want. "I support the (Millboro) group in every way and I believe the alumni will continue to support them," Hall said.
"I think the school is an eyesore for the Millboro community, and it is a safety hazard and a disaster waiting to happen," Byrd said. "I am concerned with how long it will take to restore it no matter who gets it."
Byrd said it is rare for the board to see a group like the one from Millboro coming to the board asking for something rather than making demands, and indicated his support for the effort. "I will stand firm and say I will support them. That support will have stipulations. I will ask the board to sign the facility over to the committee," Byrd said.
The board will pay for asbestos abatement at the school and also for any demolition work necessary, Byrd said, but will not operate the facility on a day-to-day basis. "The board of supervisors does not pay for operation of community centers," he said.
Hardbarger and Nowlin noted the fact decisions had been postponed because of the absences of other board members and said they felt the same should be done for Trees in this case. "One more month won't hurt. This will give the organization that much more time. I am impressed with the financial figures, but I am much more impressed with the community support," Nowlin said.
Byrd agreed with the postponement. "I am not dodging the issue. I have said how I will vote, and I will not back off and will not be swayed," he said.
"Gas is $4 per gallon, and I want us to remember how many people are here tonight to support the project," Hall said. The majority of those in attendance were from the Millboro group.
Hall asked if the group members had a problem with postponing the vote under the circumstances, and they indicated they did not.
Spectrum's Garland attended the meeting, and said he has felt all along that if the community could handle the school project, that would be the best thing. "We asked why anyone would want to tear those buildings down two years ago," he said.
Money, Garland cautioned, will be the biggest question. "If you pursue historic tax credits, you don't get that money until the project is complete. The $80,000 you will raise may seem like a lot, but if you do the tax credits you will spend $70,000 on attorney's fees," he said.
Garland said restorations of this kind cost $100-$125 per square foot, which will place the cost of the project in the millions. "Make sure you can get to the end before you start," he said.
Spectrum would be open to a public-private venture in cooperation with the Millboro group, Garland said. "Your plans are viable from what I have heard. You must have the money coming in to finance the money that is spent. If you decide the cost is too much, we could step in and tailor our planning to what you want to see," he said.
Hardbarger said she would like to see Plecker and Garland have a conversation about the project and called Garland "one of the finest, most decent individuals I have ever come across."
Plecker said after the meeting she was not concerned about the additional 30 days before a decision is made. "I think it will help us," she said.
| 
)