While the exact future of the Milroy Public School building isn’t fully clear, the school board knows one thing for sure — the building won’t be demolished.
During its regular meeting Monday night, the board voted unanimously to accept a bid for the building from Ryan and Alicia Eliason for $100.
Prior to the bid opening, the latter addressed the board during the public comment period.
“We thought a lot about it,” Eliason said. “We thought a lot about what this building could potentially become — things I think would be a good thing for our community such as daycare. If the school closes, we lose the daycare here and there is a significant need.”
Eliason also discussed the possibility of instituting an assisted living community as well as working the Tracy Area Public Schools to rent the gym out for practices as the gym at the former Balaton school is no longer available for use. Eliason also expressed a desire to keep T-ball going in the community on the field at the school.
“I think if there are things available to our community for parents and families, people will want to be part of our community,” Eliason said. “It’s a want of every small town community.” During the bid opening process, Supt. John Willey opened the one sealed bid received. The bid was for $5,100 from George Keaton Duncan of Missouri. The bid sheet was completed, but no other information was included such as potential plans for the site or building.
Willey then presented the bid from the Eliasons, which he stated was e-mailed to him and that he was the only one to receive that bid before the meeting.
Board Chair Ashley Christianson asked Eliason if they had funding for the potential projects as the school would need repairs to the roof and boiler system as well as potential foundation repairs. Eliason stated she had started to look into the potential of grants at both the Redwood County level as well as the state and federal level but would work more on those if the bid was awarded to them After discussion, the board voted to accept the bid from the Eliasons for $100. After the end of the school year, Tracy Area Public Schools will have first rights to anything inside the building. Following that, all remaining items will be sold at public auction per state statute.
In other board news …
• Ashley Christianson was elected board chair again and Adam Snyder was elected clerk/treasuer.
• The board approved a pay increase for custodian Jason Dahl as he didn’t receive one at the beginning of the year, as well as pay increases for Robin Hauger and Alecia Kelly as they have been handling the cook’s duties since early December. Hauger also received her food handling license.
• The next board meeting will be Monday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. due to President’s Day on the third Monday.
