McMinnville officials have agreed to allow AEI to generate plans for the demolition of the Blue Building’s gymnasium and auditorium, and protection of the main building at a cost of $23,000.
The measure passed 5-2 Tuesday night. Vice Mayor Ben Newman and Aldermen Ken Smith, Mike Neal, Jimmy Bonner and Rick Barnes voted in favor of it, while Mayor Jimmy Haley and Alderman Billy Wood voted against it.
What the board approved was allocating the additional funds requested by AEI to generate plans on removal of the two structures and protection measures for the main building, not the actual demolition work.
Prior to the vote Haley explained his decision.
“I know the belief is the building is almost impossible to save,” he said, “but we did vote as a board, several times, to allow an entity to try to market the building with a chance of saving the whole thing. I do realize this is an inevitable thing. In my good conscious and for preservation, I just can’t do it. I will be voting no.”
Voters have told the city they do not want to spend money on the Blue Building, says Wood.
“Now, the board has voted to spend at least another $300,000 on the Blue Building ignoring the previous referendum and warnings of financial shortfalls which will trigger tax increases. Oh well, the voters elected them, they’ll have to live with their decisions. All I can do is continue to vote no.”
The measure was considered by Finance Committee members on Tuesday night, but not voted on, prior to being sent to the full board.
Smith says the measure met the city’s policy allowing for it to be considered by the board the same night as the committee meeting because it was not voted on in committee.
“It was on the agenda for the committee to consider, but we did not vote on it,” he said. “In essence, this measure bypassed the committee and was sent straight to the full board for its consideration.”
Being a resolution, the measure only required one passing vote before the board.
This is one step in the process to remove the gymnasium and auditorium and preserve the main building.
Being located within the city’s historic district, the city must request a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Historic Zoning Commission before demolition can begin. That meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 10:30 a.m.
Bids for the demolition/ protection work will be accepted until Sept. 19. Then, if the city reviews the bids and awards it to one of the companies, the funds will be secured and work can begin.