The Greene County School Board heard an update on the former middle school project at their special meeting earlier this week.

Jefferson resident Chris Deal has been working with Developer Nate Adams with NGA Ventures to convert the three-story building into apartments. Adams told the Board that a zero-percent interest loan application was submitted to Iowa Finance Authority, a letter of intent was submitted to the City of Jefferson for a forgivable loan and review of the historical tax credit application continues with Adams’ consultant. He said his timeline remains on target but there was an issue he found out about the application with IFA.

“But as part of their guidelines and requirements is that they do not ask for any disruption or changes to the site while the application is under review. So this is going to result in a delay of demoing the gym. While it’s under review and until we get the final award, we’re asking for the gym to be delayed up to probably a year or until that IFA program is formally announced.”

The Board approved at their regular February meeting a $149,750 bid from Murphy Construction to demolish the gym. Superintendent Tim Christensen said that Murphy Construction will honor the bid as long as needed. He noted that they are paying to have both buildings heated as the only ongoing expense. 

Christensen shared his thoughts on the demolition setback at the meeting.

“I commend these two gentlemen. Again having never been through this it’d be easy to fold up the tent and go home at certain stages. But to me you’re continuing to soldier on because you see it as a great project and can see the progress and everything so again I commend you.”   

The Board agreed to continue the process and will begin demolition of the gym after the decision has been made on the IFA application.