Village trustees wants public input on future of former Ewing School building

Should the Village of Ewing purchase the former Ewing School?

The question will be posed to Ewing residents, Sunday, June 5, during a 4 p.m. town hall meeting in the school's gym.

Trustees broached the topic earlier this month during the group's May 9 meeting, when Trustees Dustin Wright and Kane Fry opened discussion on turning the school into a community center.

According to Wright, younger adults in the community support the idea. Fry said he has had conversations about a potential purchase and "there is support."

During the meeting, Trustee Dustin Wright said, "I don't know if the town will be able to support it without passing a one-half cent sales tax."

He suggested a purchase agreement, contingent on passage of the sales tax.

If approved, Ewing's tax rate would increase to 6.5%.

Trustee Chairman James Ramold expressed concerns about the building being a "money pit."

Ramold said utilities, including gas, electric, water, sewer and garbage, averaged $2,792.98 per month when the school was fully function.

"Last year, our sales tax raised about $24,000. That still puts you behind the eight ball, plus you're inheriting a half a million dollar headache," Ramold said.

Wright said he does not believe the school's board of education will tear down the building.

Holt County Economic Development Director Shelby Regan suggested using LB 840 funding and will direct questions about its use to the village attorney.

"There might be a way you can allocate some of those funds," she said.

In the future, if the structure is too costly for village coffers, Wright said the building could be sold.

"Otherwise, they're going to end up selling it to someone we don't know," Wright said.

Concerns were mentioned about the cost of a heating and cooling system, primarily in the the gym.

Ramold said, "Our job as a board is to spend money as wisely as we can. This is my opinion, I'm only one vote, but my vote is it's not very wise."

Wright asked if city offices and the Ewing Township Library could move to the building. He said the move could open the possibility for business expansion in the village.

"Otherwise, if we're just going to stay here and die, then that's what we're going to do," Wright said.

What scenario could evolve if the school board pursues auctioning the property?

"They could sell it to someone we don't know," Wright said.

Ramold asked board members for input.

Fry suggested taking a look into it.

"We'd like to see something like this. I know feasibility is the issue. If we can work something out, we should at least entertain the idea," he said.

Dustin Jorgensen said the village has other debts to pay off.

"If we can figure out a way to fund it, then maybe," he said.

Wright acknowledged that taking on the facility is a big step.

"What does our community have here?" He asked. "What do we have that separates us?

The future of the old elementary building was also discussed. Regan said the property may qualify for brownfield funding through the Environmental Protection Agency.

"At the end of the day, it's a penny out of every dollar you're spending, to have something. And, at the end of the day, some of the people who are paying for it, aren't from town," Wright said.