City proposes partnership with BOE

Published 8:00 am Thursday, October 17, 2013

Pell City Board of Education (PCBOE) met Tuesday to address occupancy of the Century Link building.

Pell City Council passed a resolution at their Monday meeting that would allow them to move forward with the agreement they presented to PCBOE.   City Manager Patrick Draper, City Attorney John Rea, Councilman Jay Jenkins and Mayor Joe Funderburg attended to relay information regarding the unanimously approved resolution.

Funderburg told the board that he was bringing this resolution to the table so everyone could take the next steps. He said that the resolution was that PCBOE continue using the Century Link building for office space or any other needs. 

“This is an ideal place, and we want you here,” said Funderburg. “ We feel this is a better situation for the board financially, and this is a good investment for the city of Pell City.”

Draper provided estimates for a co-ownership of the Century Link Building between the PCBOE and the city. In this estimate, the city would have 75 percent ownership of the building and the board would gain 25 percent ownership. Included in the estimate were a new heating and air system, a new roof and caulked windows. 

The proposed 25 percent ownership of the building would cost the board $500,000. Included in this amount is $50,000 for a parking lot for the new Century Link location. Though there is no contract between Century Link and the city, Draper said that the city has had formal conversations of the proposal with Century Link.

If this proposal were to move forward Century Link would sale its current building to the city and board of education, which was last appraised at around $ 4 million. Century Link would obtain the current Pell City Library with an additional 25 parking spaces. And the new Pell City library would share the building with the BOE.                

Discussion with the board was held after Draper and Funderburg’s presentation of the resolution. One question was whether a cap on estimation prices could be put in place. Another board member questioned how decisions would be made and how much say the board would have with only 25 percent ownership. Draper said that the council could vote to place a cap on current prices for the board, and as co-owners the city and board would both have say in where money was earmarked. 

Another issue brought forward was the board’s current deal with the county to purchase the old DHR building. Draper said that it was important that they preserve this property. He said that he feared that buying the property one bid at a time might result in a future loss of revenue. He also said that he was hopeful that the old hospital land with the DHR land could be used in future community development. He also noted that this development would influence the BOE with tax dollars.

Superintendent Michael Barber said that he and the board were unaware of the city’s issues with the purchase of the old DHR building when he approached the county to purchase the land. Barber said that because they were unaware of this they had chosen to move down that particular road. 

“I don’t know what the Oct. 22 date will result in, but we have to see where this goes because that is the road we have taken,” said Barber. 

 There was no discussion as to whether or not the board would accept the city’s offer.