Vote set for Milton School District building purchase
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Milton School District voters will decide whether or not the city buys the vacant former Milton College Daland Fine Arts Center.
IF YOU GO
What: A special meeting of the Milton School District electorate. District administrators will give a presentation on a plan to buy the former Daland Building, 448 E. High St. District residents will be asked to vote on whether to give the Milton School Board authority to negotiate buying the building.
When: 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29.
Where: Northside Intermediate School, 159 Northside Drive, Milton.
MILTON — Milton School District residents will decide later this month whether the district should spend as much as $1.4 million to buy and upgrade the former Daland building.
The Milton School Board on Monday approved setting a special electorate meeting Aug. 29 to ask district residents for authorization to buy the building at 448 E. High St.
The building had housed the CESA 2 educational services cooperative until February, when the group relocated to Whitewater. The district wants to use the building to relocate its offices and MECAS alternative school, which are both in rented spaces.
The district agreed earlier this year to an option to buy the building for $875,000 but has since negotiated that price down to $850,000, according to district records. That cost doesn’t include move-in and renovation costs, which district consultants say could cost an additional $500,000.
That’s up from earlier district estimates of about $200,000 for upgrades and repairs.
Building and Grounds Director Wendell Boyer told the board Monday the district now has more complete details on changes that would be necessary to satisfy code requirements to use the building as classroom space. He said the changes include modification to exits and to parts of the building’s interior layout.
The district already had factored in $75,000 for needed roof repairs at the building, plus about $100,000 for a needed sprinkler system.
Board member Besty Lubke said she favors the district buying the building, but she’s concerned about growing estimates for repairs.
“It’s going to take us longer to recoup,” she said.
Lubke and other board members, including Wilson Leong and Bob Cullen, asked district administrators to provide more details on repair costs and on savings the district could see compared to renting space. The group asked to have those numbers available by the board’s Aug. 15 meeting.
The district still hasn’t given details of how it would pay for the building. Financing options include borrowing and reserve funds, district officials have said.
The District in July had a consultant review the Daland building for environmental conditions, including possible asbestos, mold and radon.
According to Environmental Consulting, the firm that conducted the review, the building shows no “significant environmental risks,” although the firm recommended some asbestos remediation and cleanup of a small amount of mold in the building.
If residents approve buying the building, the district could close by Dec. 31.
The city has approved using the building as a school, and its owner is considering allowing the school district to move in its district offices before the closing.
Meanwhile, the board on Monday also approved a one-year, $35,000 lease extension at the Burdick building, 35 Plumb St., where the district currently houses MECAS.
Aug 3, 2011 at 5:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
Agreed, Janesvillean, but I would like to know we actually did do a bit of "shopping" for a contractor, to get the most bang for our buck.
Its just common sense to use the existing buildings we have... we both agree, in the long run...
Aug 3, 2011 at 1:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Bidding is controlled by state law, except in defined cases of emergency, gmaof3. There really are not that many contractors capable of taking on a project of this scale and complexity, anyway.
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I think it's worth it as an investment that makes good use of one of the old college buildings, which otherwise are at risk of vacancy and neglect (look at the condition of this one which was occupied). It's good for Milton, if you do look at the long run.
Aug 2, 2011 at 5:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
For the long term, this should save the district money. We are throwing rent monies out the window right now.
Mold is not big issue if you can get at the source. Plus, its been closed for quite a while with no ventilation, to speak of. Radon is prevalent in Milton. Much of Rock County is peppered with it. If it can be vented at the lowest level of the building, the structure would pass as safe.
I agree with Lubke though, I would like to see the contract opened to bids, and I mean REALLY open to bids, not the same old cronies that do state work. I won't name them here...
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