The members of the newly formed Marshall County Parks and Recreation Department Board are already moving forward with a project.
Although the organization’s mission statement and five-year master plan remain undecided, the board members have an opportunity to purchase a piece of land contiguous to large properties owned by the county and two other county cultural markers.
The board will be presenting an offer to purchase the property of the “Old West School” at 9971 State Road 17. A waiver of retroactivity would be applied for in order to get a grant to pay for the property after the fact. They will offer $25,000 for the property, with that money to possibly come from donations, the township trustee, Brownfield grant money, or the county commissioners, if accepted.
Additional expenses could include asbestos removal, demolition, and site improvements on the buildings on that site.
Board Secretary Deb VanDeMark said the building has been deemed unsafe by the county’s Unsafe Building Board and needs to be removed. A portion of the building could be salvaged for improvements to host a park office. The historic West Township building could also be moved onto the property which is located across the street.
The board members agreed to move forward with a proposed purchase agreement, an environmental assessment, and determine whether or not that the appraisals are still in good standing. More information will be presented in a future meeting.
