Uses discussed, options will be explored
Staff writer
More than 40 people attended a town hall meeting Thursday in the Florence gym to discuss what to do with buildings given to the city by the school district — the former gym, the home economics building, and the former administrative building.
Citizens were allowed to tour the buildings before the meeting.
If the city keeps the buildings open, the problem will be paying utilities. The gas bill for November was $861, and the electric bill in December was more than $500. A conservative estimate on the utilities for the four coldest months of the year was between $2,000 and $2,500 per month.
A suggestion for the former administrative building was to use half the space for the city library. The current library building is in need of expensive roof repairs. A children’s center would occupy the other half.
Suggestions for the gym included letting an organization use it for a bingo night or to establish a flea market once a month and collect booth rent.
Mayor Mary Shipman said the city council wanted to know whether the community wanted to maintain ownership, try selling the buildings, or leave them idle.
Council member Trayce Warner suggested that a community foundation be established. The interest earned from money donated could help cover the cost of utilities and maintenance.
Shipman said a decision wasn’t needed at the meeting but would have to be made soon. Anyone with any ideas or suggestions should contact the city office, a council member, or Shipman.