Despite wrench in plans, Orchard village will pursue former school building

Village of Orchard officials will continue talks with the Summerland School board of education regarding the sale of the former Orchard school building and grounds. After listening to input from community members for nearly an hour, Monday evening, during a community meeting, village chairperson Stephanie Cleveland said she and trustee John Ferguson will meet with the school's Building and Grounds Committee members again April 1.

Video of the Orchard community meeting available on the SAM YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR4XuLVbW3c

Several snags have slowed talks between the two entities, including the cost of bids submitted to the Summerland board for demolition of the 1923 Orchard building. Those proposals ranged from $398,510 to $568,040 and did not include moving the HVAC system.

Then, on March 25, during a meeting with school officials, Cleveland and Ferguson learned another party expressed interest in purchasing the site.

"I left that meeting rather distraught," Cleveland said. "I didn't know where we stood."

The village's original discussion regarding a potential purchase of the Orchard school began during when Summerland consolidation efforts started. At the time, the village was the only party interested.

According to Cleveland, a lease agreement and potential sales agreement were drawn up in late 2021.

"The lease agreement, hopefully, was going to be something short term. We were hoping we'd have a sale agreement in time."

The original sale agreement was for $30,000, with the Summerland district fronting the cost for teardown of the 1923 building.

A purchase agreement was never signed between the village and school.

"It would have been null and void because the number we were waiting on was the number to fit in for the bid," Cleveland said.

For the past two weeks, school and village committees have met to discuss how to proceed.

"We've been talking to them about possibly doing something with the heating in here," Cleveland said.

Estimates to get the HVAC system operational run approximately $155,000 for ductless heating and cooling units.

The PTAC units would be installed in the gym, east classrooms, kitchen area, music room and shop.

"It would be better off for us in the long run," Cleveland said.

Ferguson said there is no insulation in the roof above the rooms on the east side.

Currently, heating costs for the newer building run approximately $1,700 per month.

Cleveland said estimates to heat both buildings range between $3,500 and $5,500 per month.

"That was an impossible number to do anything with," Cleveland said.

Ferguson said a heater has been moved into the shop area, since the village's maintenance department operates out of it.

"There wasn't adequate heat," Ferguson said.

Residents queried about the future of the maintenance department operating out of the school if another party purchased the building.

"Unless whoever gets the building would let him work in the shop," Cleveland said.

The village board has not discussed scenarios if the 1923 building remains upright, "except in passing," according to Cleveland.

Orchard resident Bev Krutz suggested an alternative that would "save money of taxpayers of the Orchard district to have it remain standing."

"Communities that choose to invest in their communities through adaptive use often have a stronger sense of place," she said.

She proposed developing a community non-profit to oversee the building and grounds.

Possible uses could include a community thrift store, artisan storefronts and entrepreneurial space.

"It would bring a new tax revenue into the area," Krutz said.

Cleveland said the village currently rents the building for community and family activities.

Orchard resident Becky Moser asked what would happen if the village "turns it back over to the school."

"They'll auction it off," Ferguson said.

Curt Mitteis, an Orchard resident, encouraged the village to pursue the purchase of the school.

"I don't think we can let it go. Maybe the old school stands for another 100 years," he said.

Questions were raised about the other party who expressed interest in the building.

Mary Erb said, "A lot of work has been put in to try to get this to happen and as we sit in limbo, there needs to be an openness. Everyone should know up front. You can't let this go on forever."

Orchard resident Kristi Schutt said she "kind of" blames the school board for not being open with the village.

"They should be happy. Our village is taking this off of their hands. They should have been more open to you guys and said 'This is who we have.' ...We, as taxpayers, have the right to know that kind of thing. I think the school board is kind of not letting us know. They're leaving us in limbo. When we came to this deal, they had told us they were going to work with the communities to get along. Well right now, it ain't looking that good, so they need to stand by their word and do that. They already spent our $400,000," Schutt said.

Cleveland said she hopes to learn more during the April 1 committee meeting with the school.

The village board of trustees is scheduled to meet Monday, April 11.