Aberdeen council approves purchase of former Presentation College nursing building after debate over funding

The City of Aberdeen on Monday approved a purchase agreement to acquire the former Presentation College Southeast Nursing Building from the Presentation Sisters, moving toward using the 20,000-square-foot facility for education or other public uses.

The council voted to approve the purchase agreement after discussion about building condition, asbestos remediation, HVAC work and what city fund should pay for the acquisition. Mayor Travis Schoneman led the presentation of the item and called it “a very good deal on the building.”

The building, located on the southeast part of the Presentation campus and described in meeting materials as the campus’s most modern educational facility, will require new boilers and replacement flooring. “The HVAC system requirement…is part of a condition of sale,” staff member Ron said during council discussion, and the sisters agreed to address the boiler/HVAC connection issue as part of the sale. Council and staff said asbestos previously identified has been removed.

Why it matters: Council members framed the purchase as an opportunity to restore educational programming to the Presentation campus and to create long-term public benefit. Parks and recreation director Matt Braun told the council the building could serve Southeast Technical College instruction if negotiations succeed; if not, staff suggested the space could eventually serve the senior center or other city functions.

Council members asked for detail on condition and costs. Staff described the structure as “in very good condition” apart from flooring and the HVAC changes. The purchase agreement includes a recorded restriction reserving the area north of the building as an educational green space or for educational expansion.

Funding was a central point of contention. The mayor proposed paying from excess promotional-fund reserves accumulated after stronger-than-expected revenue in recent years; he told the council the fund balance was “about $500,000 to $600,000.” One group of council members moved to amend the purchase motion to require the city find an alternate funding source rather than use the promotional fund; that amendment failed in a roll-call vote (Norbstrup voted yes; all other members voted no). After the amendment failed, the council approved the purchase agreement on a roll-call vote with all voting members recorded as “aye.”

Sister Mary of the Presentation Sisters addressed the council before the vote, thanking the city and expressing hope the building will expand access to trade and technical education. “It’s always been the hope of the sisters that…all people have access to the goods of the community,” she said.

What the agreement requires: meeting materials and staff said the sisters will be responsible for disconnecting the steam service from the nearby motherhouse and for installing boilers before legal transfer. The recorded sale will include the educational-green-space restriction to the north of the structure.

Next steps: Staff said the city will finalize the signed purchase documents with the sisters and then work on programming and recruitment of educational partners. Councilors and staff indicated work on flooring and interior reconfiguration will follow possession and will be budgeted or pursued through future funding discussions.

Speakers: Mayor Travis Schoneman, Robin (City Manager), Ron (staff member), Matt Braun (Parks & Recreation director), Sister Mary (Presentation Sister), Councilwoman Lee Belt, Councilman Ward, Councilwoman Foburg, Councilman Ronayne, Councilman Alan Johnson. (Speakers are identified here with role or affiliation as presented during the meeting.)

Authorities: The acquisition is governed by a purchase agreement (contract) recorded as part of the transaction; the agreement includes a restrictive covenant designating the area north of the building as educational green space (referenced in council materials). The council also referenced internal city reserve and promotional fund policies when discussing funding.

Actions: The council considered and passed the following formal actions related to this item: - Approval of the purchase agreement to acquire the former Presentation College Southeast Nursing Building. Mover: Councilwoman Lee Belt; Second: Councilman Ward. Roll-call vote recorded all members present as "aye." Outcome: approved. - Amendment proposing an alternate funding source (motion to find funding elsewhere rather than use promotional-fund reserves). Outcome: defeated (Norbstrup voted aye; other voting members voted no).

Clarifying details: building size ~20,000 sq ft; asbestos removal completed; boilers/HVAC to be replaced (sisters responsible under sale conditions); promotional fund balance described in discussion as about $500,000–$600,000; flooring replacement needed; recorded restriction for educational green space north of building.

Community relevance: The property sits on the Presentation campus near Main Street and is intended to be used for education or public programming affecting students, senior citizens and workforce-training participants.

Provenance: Transcript excerpted from council discussion beginning with the agenda item introduction and ending with the roll-call vote approving the purchase. Topic intro excerpt: "It's possible approval of a purchase agreement for the city to acquire the Presentation Sisters former Presentation College Southeast Nursing Building." Topic finish excerpt: "Aye. Motion carries. So we are making it official. Sisters, we will get you a signed document."