July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Developer bids for building (10/17/2008)
South Adams School Board
By By JACK RONALD-
BERNE - A local developer has offered to assume the cost of demolition of the old elementary school here in exchange for the land it stands on and another 28 acres on Clark Street that was formerly the site of a football field.
Mark Wynn told the South Adams School Board Thursday he has a "solid quote" from Martin Enterprises Inc., Fort Wayne, to raze the building, located along U.S. 27 in Berne, for $625,000. That includes removal and disposal of the building's asbestos.
Wynn estimated he would spend an additional $10,000 seeding the lot with grass.
The school corporation, which is in the process of building a new elementary/middle school adjacent to South Adams High School, has budgeted $350,000 for demolition of the old elementary building.
But Wynn said Martin Enterprises believes that a more accurate estimate would be $687,000 because the school corporation would have to comply with prevailing wage laws.
By giving him the two pieces of property, a total of about 34 acres, in exchange for his assumption of the demolition cost, the school corporation could use the money it has budgeted for demolition on the construction and renovation project.
It could also avoid the higher-than-budgeted expense that Martin foresees.
Wynn said he has long dreamed of developing housing on the Clark Street property and has been in talks with CVS about the possibility of building a store on the U.S. 27 property. A portion of the elementary land would also be developed as a park and playground for the neighborhood, Wynn said. He is working with an unnamed investor on the project.
School board members took no action on Wynn's proposal, noting that disposal of publicly-owned land is a complex procedure, Multiple appraisals are required, and those appraisals are only valid for six months. At this point, superintendent Cathy Egolf explained, it's not known when classes will be moved from the old building to the new one.
"We've had others express interest," board president Tony Mellencamp said. "We don't know what exactly we're looking at right now. ... Certainly we appreciate your interest."
The board had earlier discussed transferring ownership of the elementary school property to the city of Berne, but that could require the city paying for demolition of the building.
Work on the new facility is now running two to three weeks ahead of schedule, board members learned Thursday.
The renovated swimming pool has been filled, and trusses for the elementary/middle school gymnasium were expected to be delivered today. Pouring of concrete for the gym floor is expected to take place within the next few weeks.
Board members gave unanimous approval to a proposal by Slam Dunk Sports Marketing, Middletown, Ohio, to erect an 8 by 3 foot scrolling electronic sign in the high school gymnasium.
Advertising would be sold on the sign to up to 20 businesses, with revenues 60 percent of the revenues - about $5,000 to $6,000 per year - going to the athletic department.
Similar signs have been installed at Bellmont and Bluffton high schools.
In other business, the board heard a technology plan review from Cindy Cash, chair of the technology council committee. The school system now has 775 networked computers.
At the urging of board member Arlene Amstutz, Cash will provide the board with a more detailed accounting of spending plans for technology.
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Mark Wynn told the South Adams School Board Thursday he has a "solid quote" from Martin Enterprises Inc., Fort Wayne, to raze the building, located along U.S. 27 in Berne, for $625,000. That includes removal and disposal of the building's asbestos.
Wynn estimated he would spend an additional $10,000 seeding the lot with grass.
The school corporation, which is in the process of building a new elementary/middle school adjacent to South Adams High School, has budgeted $350,000 for demolition of the old elementary building.
But Wynn said Martin Enterprises believes that a more accurate estimate would be $687,000 because the school corporation would have to comply with prevailing wage laws.
By giving him the two pieces of property, a total of about 34 acres, in exchange for his assumption of the demolition cost, the school corporation could use the money it has budgeted for demolition on the construction and renovation project.
It could also avoid the higher-than-budgeted expense that Martin foresees.
Wynn said he has long dreamed of developing housing on the Clark Street property and has been in talks with CVS about the possibility of building a store on the U.S. 27 property. A portion of the elementary land would also be developed as a park and playground for the neighborhood, Wynn said. He is working with an unnamed investor on the project.
School board members took no action on Wynn's proposal, noting that disposal of publicly-owned land is a complex procedure, Multiple appraisals are required, and those appraisals are only valid for six months. At this point, superintendent Cathy Egolf explained, it's not known when classes will be moved from the old building to the new one.
"We've had others express interest," board president Tony Mellencamp said. "We don't know what exactly we're looking at right now. ... Certainly we appreciate your interest."
The board had earlier discussed transferring ownership of the elementary school property to the city of Berne, but that could require the city paying for demolition of the building.
Work on the new facility is now running two to three weeks ahead of schedule, board members learned Thursday.
The renovated swimming pool has been filled, and trusses for the elementary/middle school gymnasium were expected to be delivered today. Pouring of concrete for the gym floor is expected to take place within the next few weeks.
Board members gave unanimous approval to a proposal by Slam Dunk Sports Marketing, Middletown, Ohio, to erect an 8 by 3 foot scrolling electronic sign in the high school gymnasium.
Advertising would be sold on the sign to up to 20 businesses, with revenues 60 percent of the revenues - about $5,000 to $6,000 per year - going to the athletic department.
Similar signs have been installed at Bellmont and Bluffton high schools.
In other business, the board heard a technology plan review from Cindy Cash, chair of the technology council committee. The school system now has 775 networked computers.
At the urging of board member Arlene Amstutz, Cash will provide the board with a more detailed accounting of spending plans for technology.
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