The Pendleton County Commission is releasing information regarding a possible purchase of the former Franklin Elementary School, most recently used as a church and church-based school. The county holds an option to purchase at a price of $485,000. A final decision must be made prior to the end of August.
The school building was constructed in three sections built in 1953, 1976 and 1997. It contains approximately 44,500 square feet of floor space.
Pendleton County’s Commissioners, as well as involved county employees, believe that the purchase of the school and its 5+ acres of land are a good acquisition for the future of Pendleton County. While the timing is not ideal, given the current construction of the courthouse annex, the county had no input into when the former school and land came to market.
The county has engaged an engineering firm and an initial assessment of the building has been made, with the structure being found in generally good shape. There are needs which can be met in a phased fashion, allowing for costs to be managed. Any asbestos is not found to be located where it has to be removed unless a future plan would cause a disturbance. Asbestos can be encapsulated by new coverings and so long as it is not disturbed, it is not an issue. The structure was safe for hundreds of school children up through its closure in early 2015.
Commissioners point out that the annex being built adjacent to the courthouse will primarily house new court related spaces, new commission office and meeting room, increased space for the circuit and county clerk functions, the assessor’s office, as well as a small amount of space for the sheriff’s department in the basement. The current courthouse spaces will be renovated, allowing for the prosecuting attorney to move into space formerly used by the magistrates, as well as expanded space for the assessor’s office, expanding into the former county commission space.
The following county agencies, as well as state agencies renting space from the county, all have space at the Pendleton Community Building. All report their spaces are deficient in meeting their needs. Of more concern is the fact that the structure, built in 1979, is in the flood plain and did flood during the 1985 flood.
Commissioners believe that they would be delinquent in their duties by not considering the former school and more importantly the vacant land. It is believed this is the best option that provides for a cost-effective way to “future-proof” operations by moving the offices out of the floodplain and by having vacant land in the county seat. An extensive search for available vacant land in and around the county seat has always met with a response of “Not for Sale,” or for sale at an unrealistic price.
The following offices would be relocated to the school, after reasonable renovations to their spaces: West Virginia University Extension Service, Pendleton County Public Service District, Pendleton County Office of Emergency Management, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Police, WV DNR Wildlife and West Virginia Division of Forestry. All would gain the square footage their operations require.
When all of the office users for the spaces above, except the extension office, need to enter or depart their spaces or go to the restroom when renters have the large public room rented for private functions, they must walk through the event. This would not be the case with functions being held at the former school.
The impact of a large flood is a concern, especially if the emergency management functions, intended to help bring numerous agencies together in recovery of a flood, were to be flooded, losing equipment and spaces to facilitate the recovery which can last for months. A loss of the PSD records would be a concern as well.
Additionally, the shelter space afforded by the community building would be lost. Commissioners fear that should a flood damage state agency office spaces, that could be the trigger to have the state simply close the presence of those offices which serve the county’s citizens.
Other positive factors of acquiring the former school include having adequate vacant space to offer other agencies or services into the future.
Tentative plans include eventually relocating the large community room functions of the community building to the school. As a school, it was host to large events in its past.
Parking is available along the east side (facing Main Street) of the building and along Sunset Lane. Additional parking can be developed on the former outdoor basketball court and a portion of the paved play area. The commissioners believe that will prove adequate.
Acquiring the facility would also safeguard the community from the potential deterioration of the structure, thereby preventing it from becoming both an aesthetic blight and a public safety concern.
Regarding Franklin Volunteer Fire Department and Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, continued use of their spaces would be welcome to continue. Having emergency responders’ stations inside the floodplain is not a good practice as well. Currently, grants exist to build new stations. However, no federal or state grant will support new buildings in floodplains. Therefore, the former FES land comes into the picture. This county commission has made it clear they are not looking to build a new fire or EMS station, but they would consider an arrangement for the land, so that Franklin VFD and/or PCER could then seek grants for new structure(s) with land well outside the floodplain.
At some future date, the then-existing commission could decide to sell the community building. Only if/when FVFD and PCER had found new homes. If the community building is retained for its current uses and the former school and land are not bought, then major funds for upkeep and renovation will need to be dedicated to the current structure. Spending large amounts of funding on a building that could flood as soon as the work is done, is not a good use of taxpayer funds.
The commissioners have made contact with Governor Patrick Morrisey’s office, as well as to Senators Bill Hamilton and Robbie Morris seeking state funding assistance.
