Commission approves amended MOU to allow annex roof work, authorizes transfer process

The Hampshire County Commission on Aug. 26 approved an amended memorandum of understanding for the School Street property in Romney that the county said will clear the way for roof repairs on the annex building and establish how ownership and leases will be handled.

The action matters because the roof must be replaced before the sheriff’s office and the county’s day reporting center can occupy the annex; the amended MOU also documents that the development authority will retain ownership of the building and asks the Board of Education to provide an environmental assessment of the facility.

John Todd Haught, the meeting presenter, said the primary purpose of the MOU "is to not demolish the annex building so that the sheriff's office and the day reporting center can occupy that building. And 1 of the things that it needs is a new roof." He told the commission the development authority's board voted to retain ownership of the building and that Article 7 of the amended MOU requests an environmental assessment from the Board of Education "so we know what contaminants, if any, are in that building." The presenter said the Board of Education is not being asked to remediate contaminants, only to provide an assessment.

Commission discussion focused on practical effects: Commissioner Mance explained that because parts of the school property have a 100‑year reversionary interest, the parties agreed to carve out the ball field area and leave title with the Board of Education while leasing that tract for Parks and Recreation use. "The Board of Education is gonna retain title to that property. They're simply gonna lease it to the county commission, and then the county commission then in turn will simply lease it out to Parks and Rec," the presenter said, describing survey plans to label the infield a separate tract.

Commissioners also emphasized that the development authority's decision to keep ownership will make it easier to proceed with redevelopment of the remaining lot; Commissioner Mance, summarizing the authority's view, said retaining ownership eases development and would leave open the option of transferring title later.

The commission voted to approve and sign the updated MOU and separately authorized President Eglanger to "execute and approve the transfer, do all things necessary to approve the transfer of the annex building, as referenced in the updated MOU." The motions were approved by voice vote.

The approvals were coupled with procedural directions: county staff and the clerk were to follow up to schedule any closing and to coordinate with the county grant writer and Darren Taylor so that any pending RFP or grant deadlines would be met.

The commission also noted that the development authority intends to maintain ownership and may lease or sell the building in the future if the sheriff's office or day reporting center relocate.

Looking ahead, county staff said once the ownership/lease issues are documented and the environmental assessment is provided, contractors can be solicited to proceed with roof replacement and associated repairs.