Demolition bids scheduled to open next month

A potential purchase agreement between Summerland School and the Village of Orchard is down to the fine details, school board members learned at their Oct. 13 meeting.

Superintendent Kyle Finke said he recently shared with board members, a revised purchase agreement from KSB attorney Steve Williams, for the purchase of the Orchard building.

"We need to put some dollar figures in," Finke said.

Other details also need to be hammered out.

A buyer's inspection and investigation of property, with the buyer accepting condition of property upon sale, will need to be completed prior to the closing date.

The agreement also includes verbiage about potential hazardous substances, if any would be found in the building after the purchase.

"We're not aware of anything in there. Once it turns over to them, it's on them, as well, to take care of it too," Finke said.

According to board of education member Nate Schwager, Orchard's village board "has authorized the mayor to sign a purchase agreement."

"She can do it at any time," Schwager said.

Finke said the next step is coming to an agreement on numbers, which include costs for demolition of the three-story structure.

Schwager asked if any additional expenses for demolition will be incurred.

The district previously agreed to a $15,000 fee, payable to Wilkins Architure, Design and Planning, for demo bid packaging.

If a performance bond is required, it is typically 2% of a project's cost, according to Schwager.

A pre-bid meeting is scheduled Nov. 4, with bids opening Nov. 15 or 16.

Any items the district intends to keep, which are still in the building, will need to be removed from the old building prior to the pre-bid meeting. Items may be stored in the newer portion of the former school.

Elementary Principal Cathy Cooper questioned how time would be made to identify items that could be sold via an auction.

"We're running a school here, what are we going to do. There's no way we have time," she said. Schwager suggested utilizing volunteers to assist with moving items before Nov. 4.

"We haven't done anything with the Ewing building," Finke said. "The question comes if we're going to have a sale at the Orchard and Ewing sites? Are we going to put it all together? At some point in time, that's going to have to take place."

Until the purchase agreement is finalized, the board authorized Finke to negotiate a lease agreement with the village for the school shop.

Schwager said a written agreement will need to be in place.

The village would like to be in the shop by Nov. 1.

Finke said the board may want to consider a dollar figure for that, too.

"They probably need to be responsible for utilities, as well," Schwager said. Finke said utility usage will be included in the lease agreement. In other business, the board:

• learned asphalt for the playground is expected to be delivered Oct. 23;

• agreed to move the discus rings at the track;

• extended a contract with Schilousky Lawn Care, to include the area around the track; and

• recognized the Summerland Education Association as the exclusive bargaining agent for the district's non-supervisory certificated staff for the 2023-2024 contract year.