Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER -ÊThough more than 50 members of the public were present Tuesday at the Wawasee School Board meeting at North Webster Elementary, only three of them actually spoke.
The purpose of the meeting was to hear public input about the future of the current North Webster School site.
The building is scheduled to be vacated in 2003 because the school corporation plans to build a new elementary school at the corner of CRs 750E and 600N.
Wawasee School Board Superintendent Mark Stock presented a review of the facility and grounds and cost of operations. He said the school corporation has studied the status of the building for two years.
Kay Andrews, North Webster's town council president, told the members of the Wawasee School Board that the town of North Webster believes the building presents a wonderful opportunity for the area.
"We would like to work with the school board on acquiring the property," she said.
The North Webster Chamber of Commerce is working with Ball State University students to improve the town, and the availability of the building comes at the right time, she said. She said the town is working with Bob Murphy, of R.P. Murphy & Associates, on applying for grants.
"I'm thinking of getting lots of grants," Andrews said at one point.
She said if the town gets the building, it could possibly be used by the police department, the youth center, township trustees, the police department, the library board and other town departments and local agencies.
School board president Jeffrey Wells asked Andrews what the time line was for the application of grants and the feasibility study. Andrews replied up to 12 months for both.
Dave Carey, school board member, said he would like to see the money and planning in place first before the school board makes any decisions.
Andrews said that at this point, the town only needs a letter of support from the school board that simply says no more than the direction North Webster wants to go with the school is the direction the school board wants to be taken.
No decision has been made regarding the school, regardless of the grumblings in the public, Wells said.
The building sits on a 6.18-acre site and there are several outlaying lots, including an "athletic field."
The athletic field interests the township trustee and advisory board. Use of the land by the township would be limited to parks and recreation.
Attorney Jay Rigdon, representing Tippecanoe Township Trustee Richard Mitchell and Township Advisory Board members Bill Metcalf, Louis "Bud" Neibert and Dick Shock, read from a letter regarding the township's proposal.
In part, the letter said, "Sections of the Indiana Code exist which appear to be in conflict with each other. One section of the law appears to require a return of the property to the township which owned the real estate before the consolidation of the schools in this part of the county many years ago. Another statutory section would appear to give the school board free hand in disposition of the property. There appears to be no appellate court cases which resolve this apparent conflict."
The letter said it is more important to determine how the parcels of real estate are used rather than who owns them. North Webster has shown an interest in the building, and the township would be willing to focus its attention on the continued recreational use of the facilities and real estate used for athletic and recreational purposes on the west side of Ind. 13.
The township requests the school board offer approximately 11.2 acres of land represented by the youth league fields, track areas and tennis court area to the township.
Tom Quigley, a member of the North Webster library board, was the final speaker from the public. He said more space for the library is an important need and, "We have a very nice library but we're just overloaded."
Wells said more discussion on the building will be scheduled at future school board meetings. Tuesday's meeting was less than 45 minutes.
Members of the Wawasee School Board include Wells, Carey, Marion Acton, Carol Swartzendruber and Brian Dawes.
