Pomeroy High School

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POMEROY — The old Pomeroy High School will remain with the village, at least for now.

Mayor Mary McAngus told council members during Monday’s meeting that Mark Porter GM Supercenter did not go through with the bid to purchase the property.

Porter’s bid of $20,250 was accepted by council in early December 2011. Porter was the lone bidder on the nearly 100 year old structure during the second round of bidding in December.

The first round of bids in July 2011 provided the village with zero bids. The council had asked for a minimum bid of $80,000 in the initial posting, with bids to be submitted by July 8. After no bids were originally submitted, the council posted the building again at the lower price of $60,000, with bids to be in by December 9.

When accepting the bid, then mayor, John Musser, noted that it would likely cost around $40,000 to demolish the building.

McAngus had signed the deed to the property in April in order to complete the sale of the property, but the sale was not completed.

The building — which was built in 1914 — was home to the Pomeroy High School Panthers until the school consolidated into the Meigs Local School District 40 years ago.

Following the consolidation, the building became the Pomeroy Municipal Building, housing the water office, police department and other administrative offices. The building has set vacant since the village moved operations in December 2009 to the former Millennium building.

Council approved a lease agreement with Porter for the space currently used to park trucks from the dealership. The agreement is for the amount of $300 per month.

The agreement was approved by a 4-2 vote with council members Robert Payne and Ruth Spaun voting no.

The village will also be boarding up the windows in the building to prevent any damage from the windows potentially falling out.

McAngus said that she had discussed the the lease agreement with the dealership prior to Monday’s meeting.

Village resident Dan Morris asked council about the possibility of members of the Alumni Association looking at the building. McAngus said she would arrange Morris and the alumni looking at the building.

Porter was available for comment Wednesday afternoon.

All members of council were present during Monday’s meeting.

More on Monday’s Pomeroy Village Council meeting will appear in the Friday edition of The Daily Sentinel.