The fate of a nearly 100-year-old school building in Wheatland remains uncertain, as negotiations between a potential private buyer and the Platte County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees continues.
Meanwhile, whether selling the 1.61-acre property for $200,000 will solve the district's problems — or create new ones — remains a matter of debate.
The school board voted 5-1 in a special meeting Monday to make a counteroffer to someone interested in buying the former junior high school, which the district has considered demolishing because of mounting maintenance costs and concerns about asbestos.
Board Chairman John Weaver was the lone nay vote.
The counteroffer would require prospective buyer Edward Ernst to purchase the property as is, without an inspection contingency, while allowing the district to continue using the building rent-free for two years.
Ernst would also be responsible for utilities, maintenance, insurance and liability during that time.
Superintendent John Weigel told Cowboy State Daily that Ernst’s plans include converting the school’s academic wing into apartments, which could help meet the community’s need for affordable rental housing.
The vote came after about 40 minutes of sometimes-contentious discussion over whether the district should sell the property at all.
Weaver, an outspoken critic of the deal from the get-go, argued the district would be better off tearing down the building than accepting $200,000 for a property it might need.
"I think it's worth more if it's torn down," he said.
He also questioned whether the proposed sale would accomplish what the district hoped.
"This is just a mess that continues to be a mess," Weaver said.
An Uncertain Future
The former junior high school dates to 1927, when it was built as an elementary school.
In recent years, the district has struggled to determine what to do with the aging building, although it still houses wrestling and drama practices and serves as storage for the district.
The school board has considered demolishing the building, possibly with funding through the Wyoming School Facilities Commission.
The district had planned to make a final decision about the building in November but first gave the public an opportunity to purchase it.
Two interested parties came forward, according to Weaver. One offered the $200,000 asking price, while the other submitted a lower offer.
The school board called a special meeting Monday to consider Ernst's offer under the terms of an Oct. 22 purchase agreement.
But board members quickly found themselves questioning what the agreement would mean for the district and its taxpayers.
'We May Need This Property'
Weaver argued that the district was being short-sighted.
"We may need this property in the future," he said. "This is not something that we should do. I think it's short-sighted on the board to approve this and sell this piece of property."
Trustee Amanda Fox disagreed, pointing to declining enrollment and the amount of property the district already owns.
"We've already decreased 200 students in five years," Fox said. "If we have an abundance of families move in, I think we have more than adequate room to accommodate that. We've got property everywhere and the number of kids are not increasing."
Trustee Diane Haroldson agreed that the district was unlikely to need additional school buildings anytime soon.
"I think we have to grow exponentially before we'd have to build new buildings," she said.
For Weaver, however, the $200,000 price tag wasn't enough to justify giving up the property.
He argued that the district has an obligation to protect taxpayers' interests, particularly when making decisions about valuable public assets.
"Every time we vote on something financial, we are doing something in the form of taxpayers' money," Fox replied.
Too Many Holes
Beyond his opposition to selling the building, Weaver raised several concerns about the terms of the purchase agreement.
Among them was a provision that would allow Ernst to inspect the property and decide by Nov. 23 whether to proceed.
Weaver argued that the inspection contingency conflicted with language elsewhere in the agreement stating the buyer would accept the property as is.
"We're going to be another year with this if he does his inspection and says I don't want to buy it," Weaver said. "It will remain an eyesore."
Board members also questioned who would be responsible for utilities, maintenance, insurance and liability during the 24 months the district would be allowed to continue using the building after the sale.
Weaver argued that the purchase agreement left too many unanswered questions and could expose the district to additional expenses or responsibilities.
"I think it opens up way too many holes for us," he said.
Other board members agreed the contract needed clearer language spelling out who would pay for what and when.
Fox, however, said she supported a sale that would allow the building to be restored while giving the district time to continue using it.
"If it keeps the peace where people get to restore the building and our programs still get to use the facility for 24 months, I don't have a problem with the sale," she said.
"I understand your point," Weaver replied. "I think it's short-sighted."
As the discussion continued, Weaver acknowledged the district had been wrestling with the building's future for years.
"I said my piece," he said. "I think we make the decision. It's been 20 years in the making and we're still talking about it."
A Counteroffer
Ultimately, Weaver suggested the board reject the agreement and make a counteroffer that more clearly protects the district's interests.
"If I was your lawyer, I wouldn't have you approve this agreement," he told board members. "I would have you tighten this up."
He made clear that even with changes to the contract, he would not support selling the property.
"I'm still voting against it, but if I were doing it I would say here's the terms we want," he said.
A motion to approve Ernst's original $200,000 offer under the Oct. 22 agreement failed unanimously.
Weaver then made a motion to counter at the same purchase price, but with several conditions.
Under the counteroffer, Ernst would purchase the property without an inspection contingency. The district would retain free use of the building for 24 months, with Ernst responsible for all maintenance, insurance, utilities and liability during that period.
The counteroffer passed 5-1, with Weaver casting the lone dissenting vote.
The vote does not finalize the sale. Ernst must still agree to the revised terms before the transaction can move forward.
Piece Of Wheatland History
Lizette Campos of Blue Raven Realty LLC, who represents Ernst, declined to discuss details of the negotiations with Cowboy State Daily, saying the parties were still working toward an agreement.
The property was publicly listed for sale Oct. 9.
The real estate listing describes the former school as a unique chance to own a piece of Wheatland history, with enough space to accommodate a variety of uses.
Possible uses suggested in the listing include a business, community space or another creative venture.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
