The Greene County School Board recently approved a purchase agreement with Greene County for the former National Guard Armory building.

Due to rising rental costs at the county fairgrounds, the Board started discussing different options to store buses one year ago. The armory building was an option that the Board wanted to pursue, however the Board’s decision to purchase the armory came after they had just approved closing the intermediate building in Grand Junction to help save a $330,000 general fund deficit, due to declining enrollment. Superintendent Tim Christensen says the money they are using to buy the armory building is the same money they are using to pay for rent at the fairgrounds.

“People have commented and discussed at the meeting that the timing was not great after closing the intermediate building at the end of this school year. I want people to know that the money that saved from closing that building is general fund dollars and the funds to be used to purchase the armory are PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) and SILO (School Infrastructure Local Option Sales Tax) funds. So it’s two completely different funds.”

The purchase agreement was for $250,000. County Engineer Wade Weiss estimated about $70,000 of improvements, plus labor costs for the improvements were added onto to the original price that the County bought it in 2010 for $150,000 from Greene County Development Corporation.

Board members John McConnell and Ashley Johnston were opposed to buying the armory. McConnell’s main concerns were buying a property that they don’t know if the utilities work or what it would cost to operate the building. Johnston thought it was poor timing and she said it was a kick to the shins for Grand Junction residents. Board member Dr. Mark Peters said they could break even within 12 years, compared to what they are paying in rent currently at the fairgrounds, which is $17,500 annually.

The Board added a contingency with the agreement that the deal will be finalized, only if the water and heating systems are both functioning. The agreement also stipulates that the school district is responsible for making any improvements or repairs to the septic system.

Christensen says they plan to install seven garage door openers and tear down a temporary wall in the gym for a wash bay as the immediate renovations.

Both the school board and the Greene County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement this week.

The district can take ownership of the building on July 3, 2017.