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Commissioners direct manager to continue talks on Lillian Black Elementary property
Summary
The board asked the county manager to keep negotiating with the school system and Town of Spring Lake about the possible purchase or reuse of Lillian Black Elementary School and to return with a recommendation, after staff reported building maintenance needs, an appraisal and potential costs.
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on May 8 directed the county manager to continue engagement with Cumberland County Schools and the Town of Spring Lake about the potential purchase or reuse of Lillian Black Elementary School and to return with a recommended price or proposal.
County Manager Grier summarized information from an appraisal and maintenance history. Grier said the school building was opened in 1938 and that the county’s most recent tax roll showed a revaluation of $1,500,000. He said an appraisal dated Sept. 14 (roughly a year to 18 months prior to the meeting) placed the property’s value at $780,000, which staff cautioned reflected primarily land value because the building is “basically a tear down.” Grier listed maintenance and code issues he said the appraisal noted: outdated electrical, mechanical and technology systems, air-quality concerns, window units, insufficient ceiling height for modern climate control, substandard outdoor spaces and parking accessed via a two-way public street.
Grier recommended staff work with the school system and the Town of Spring Lake to develop a workable price and said, if the county decided to pursue purchase, he would recommend an equitable cost split with the town. Commissioner Tyson moved that the county manager continue engagement with the school system and town and seek a consensus price before returning with a final recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The manager said he expects to return with a report by the June agenda session at the latest.
The board did not vote to purchase or to accept any offer on May 8. Commissioners asked whether the town had taken any formal action; staff said they had not received notification from Spring Lake and would follow up. The appraisal and maintenance observations will be included in follow-up work between the county, the school system and the town.
Ending: Staff will continue talks with the school system and the Town of Spring Lake, seek a price proposal that accounts for the property’s condition and potential demolition costs, and return to the board—likely at the June agenda session—with a formal recommendation.
