The Greene County school board plans to honor a resolution of the East Greene board regarding disposition of the school property in Rippey, but who will pay what amount in the process is unknown.
In anticipation of the demolition of the three-story classroom portion of the Rippey school, the East Greene board at its final meeting before the reorganization of the EG and Jefferson-Scranton districts last summer approved a resolution asking that the cities of Rippey and Grand Junction be given first right of refusal should school property be sold. Demolition of the old school is finished, and the Rippey city council at its Nov. 3 meeting asked city clerk Mary Millard to notify superintendent Tim Christensen of the city’s desire to buy the property.
Christensen told the school board at its Nov. 12 meeting that the property could be sold to the city of Rippey for $1, but because the school is keeping the gymnasium, the property would need to be surveyed at a cost of $2,300. Board member Teresa Hagen added that an abstract would also be needed, at a cost of $2,500.
Board members from the former J-S district seemed to agree that it would be fair to ask the city of Rippey to pay those costs. Susan Burkett and Ashley Johnston are the members of the East Greene board appointed to the Greene County board. Burkett suggested that if the city of Rippey is unable or unwilling to pay the entire cost, the school should pay a portion. “If the city of Rippey owns it next to the gym that we’re using, we know it’s going to be safe. It would be a positive thing for our district for the city to have control of that land,” Burkett said.
Johnston was not at the meeting.
Christensen said there is no timetable for a sale and that he would discuss options with Rippey officials.
When the Jefferson-Scranton district closed the Scranton school, the district paid for demolition of the three-story structure. The city of Scranton purchased the baseball field and playground for $1, with the city paying associated legal fees, according to Dawn Rudolph. The city later purchased the gymnasium and the one-story portion for $1. The city of Scranton uses the building as a community center and has done considerable work updating the gym. (Rudolph serves on the community center board.) The school has a 28E agreement with the city for unlimited use of the gym at a cost of $5,000 per year. The gym is used for middle school basketball games.
In the case of the Rippey gym, the school is retaining ownership.
