Evansville School district ponders property purchase
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The Evansville School District hopes to be able to buy this house on S. 2nd St. behind J.C. McKenna Middle school to help make a better and safer street crossing for students and drop-off area for drivers.
EVANSVILLE — Evansville School District is considering buying and razing a home adjacent to J.C. McKenna Middle School to increase green space and safety in the busy student drop-off area behind the school.
Voters will have to approve the purchase of the property at 302 S. Second St., at a meeting Monday, Oct. 12.
Buying the property would add green space and improve safety in the busy student drop-off area behind the school, officials say.
“For those reasons—safety, green space—the property is attractive,” Board President Michael Pierick said.
The home was up for sale this summer, but the district missed the deadline to make an offer, he said.
The property’s new owners, John and Barb Willoughby, are willing to sell to the district, he said. The Willoughbys bought the property for $75,000 plus closing costs and are willing to sell it to the district for what they put into it, Carvin said.
The hope is the couple would work with the fire department for a controlled burn of the house, she said.
“So that they’ll essentially turn over a lot to us, and they’ll get a tax credit,” she said.
The cost to the district depends on how much landscaping the couple and the district would do, but the district would look at a not-to-exceed price, she said.
“Over the next year, my hope would be an overall cost to the district of less than $100,000,” she said.
Funding is not decided, but the district is considering a land contract or borrowing money, Carvin said. Pierick also mentioned using fund balance money as an option.
The garage would be moved onto school property for physical education storage, Carvin said. Other changes to the property would include:
-- Removing the walkway that runs along the fence from the Second/Lincoln street intersection to the school parking lot. The fence from the north side of the home’s property would be moved to the south side of the property.
-- Creating a new walkway along the route of the home’s driveway to the parking lot, creating a better drop-off point for students.
-- Creating a new walkway on the north side of the school from First Street through to Second Street, creating a second drop-off point about a block away from the home’s driveway drop-off.
-- Changing crosswalks at the intersection from diagonal to straight across Second Street, and moving stop signs.
“We think that should decrease by about half the number of people dropping off at any one spot,” Carvin said, “and we won’t end up with one of these crazy crosswalks, kiddy-corner across the intersection. It’s just a real nightmare. (If you) need to drop a child off at a sidewalk, when you do that, (it’s) in the middle of the intersection.”
The district has discussed replacing the aging middle school. But regardless of if or when that happens, Carvin said the current building is still a part of the community, and “these changes would benefit future uses.”
Oct 3, 2009 at 6:29 a.m.
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Heidi Carvin has done very little beneficial for this district. She likes to spend way to much, and put very little in place that will help the students long term. Spend the money on more curriculum at the high school. It's seriously lacking.
Oct 2, 2009 at 5:50 p.m.
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I'll take the school pick up problems in Evansville in trade for the problems in Janesville.
Oct 2, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.
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Heidi needs to go buh bye
Oct 2, 2009 at 5:47 p.m.
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TRIS has a flat roof. Did any of you notice that? Now, get up there and find a leak!
Oct 2, 2009 at 1:55 p.m.
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Regarding the house: why burn it down? Don't people move houses anymore? If the city doesn't want it, how about selling it at auction with the winner picking up the tab to have it moved. I know it's expensive to move a house, but if someone could buy the house for $100, or even $5,000 it might be a worthwhile venture, wouldn't it?
Oct 2, 2009 at 12:57 p.m.
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Thank you for the insight to the leaking issue Katy. It gives some explanation as to why its taking so long. Still seems like a long time though. I do worry about mold, and crap when ever there is leaks like that.
Oct 2, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
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I can give some insight on the TRIS leaks. They can't seem to find where the blinking thing is leaking. First, they thought it was a burst pipe (when it leaked after a week with no rain), then they thought there was pooling water somewhere that took a while to get through and leak. I'm not sure if more has been determined since last year, but judging by the many garbage cans set up to collect leaking water 2 weeks ago, I'm guessing the answer is no. And 2 weeks ago, it had not rained for 3 weeks. I hope some resolution is found for this before my 3rd kid graduates from there in 2011.
Oct 2, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.
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There is no solid , good reason to spend that much money on this at this time. It's nothing the school has to have. It is nothing that will fix things long term. It's a lot of money. It won't be just the price of the house, but it will have to be moved or demolished, and then clean up and black top. It will go over 100 thousand. The Evansville school district should be focusing on improvements in other areas if they are going to spend this kind of money. Things we need, not want.
The meeting on Oct 12th, everyone who comes gets to vote, not just the school board. I have not a heard a good enough arguement yet that justifies spending that kind of money. As far as safety, there are many other things they could do to improve safety, that does not require spending 100k. That is just ridiculous. Fix the damn leaking roofs, fix the plumbing issues. I will vote no for this purchase. But would gladly support money to fix the roof and plumbing. But at the same time if they had been fixing the roof as was needed they would not have had it be such a big, expensive repair. Evansville tax payers stand up and speak out. Enough with unneeded spending by this district. Oct 12th there is a special meeting before the regular school board meeting.
Oct 2, 2009 at 10:17 a.m.
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The problem with the dropping off of the kids is the school has allowed this to happen for too many years. There needs to be a designated pick up and drop off area and it needs to be adhered to and they have NEVER done that. UP until this year they allowed people to drive in the parking lot area next to the school , which is extremely dangerous. But its all on them, and what they have not done. They need to set a place, and call in the police, and let them sit there during that time, instead of just driving around the school like they do. After getting a ticket or two people will catch on fast where its o.k. to drop off and pick up.
The buses drop off in front of the school on first street. Always have.
Oct 2, 2009 at 10:13 a.m.
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evansvillehousewife, yep how long has the roof leaked at the T.R.I.S. school? I was in there last week and they once again have the 5 gallon buckets lined up , what is the deal they can not fix the leaking roof. Heidi spends money a lot of times, in the wrong places. Start doing maintenance on a regular basis and you would not see all the need for huge repairs. I think this is going on the 3rd year that school is dealing with a leaky roof. One might wonder if she is trying to let it go to pieces so she could have a argument for a new school all together. Don't underestimate her sneakiness she will surprise you at what she will do to get her way.
Oct 2, 2009 at 9:31 a.m.
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In this economy how can they add more debt? Willoughby's could just donate the house and property. That makes more sense than purchasing it. And I don't see a referendum passing.
Oct 2, 2009 at 8:24 a.m.
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I am confused. Do the bus drivers drop off the kids at this intersection? Why is it so busy. Perhaps the children could walk to school or be dropped off a few blocks away and walk. Taking a tax paying property off the roll is unacceptable.
Oct 2, 2009 at 8:09 a.m.
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*correction- "paid over $120,000 for that little house"
Oct 2, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
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I agree, it's a beautiful building, and with Evansville's emphasis on historical preservation, should be preserved. But we DO need updated schools- they can NOT make a superior building out of that old one. Fire codes, overcrowding, and new science labs require drastically different layouts than what the masonry of that old building can provide. When that old building was built, kids used bunsen burners and fume hoods hadn't been invented yet... now they have hot plates and fume hoods for safer work.
This is without even mentioning ventilation and plumbing issues.
Not to mention that it will be a long time before they can touch that property for $75,000 again. Five years ago they would have paid over $120 for that little house. Property values in Eville have always been higher than Beloit and Janesville.
And curtaincall, so Carvin spends money on the student's buildings and school improvements. That IS what she is supposed to do. Now, if they could fix the leaking ceilings and mold issues in the elementary and intermediate schools......
Oct 2, 2009 at 7:33 a.m.
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huh- I agree with you completely. It is a beautiful VERY old building. I am very disappointed they have not done a better job of finding ways, to improve on what they have instead of in the back of their minds always thinking someday we will build a new one. Heidi has wanted for years to dump the this building and build new. NOW I have been assured by a school board member there will be no building in near future. The money needs to be spent on things they really need, not on what they would like to have. I WOULD love a new family room, but because of the times it will have to wait. Because the money we have set a side for this really should go to a new roof and replace some windows. I want a lot of things, but I will FIX the things I need.
Oct 2, 2009 at 7:28 a.m.
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I still think I would talk with a tax attorney if I were them. Just so everybody knows exactly what to expect.
Oct 1, 2009 at 8:38 p.m.
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curtaincall, that IRS issue pertains to house "donations" where the property remains with the owner and they build new. Here the entire property is changing hands.
Oct 1, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
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One: Students have been crossing there for how many years? It is a controlled intersection with stop signs in all directions.
Two: They just want to buy that house (and maybe the one next door) to make room to build a new middle school, when all they need to do is gut the current middle school. They will NEVER be able to build a school as good as the current one. And it would be a pity to throw away all the money invested in it already with the multiple additions.
Oct 1, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.
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Heidi likes spending, money, money, money. And the owners who would be 'turning' this over to the school, should be very careful in thinking they are going to get a 'big' tax credit on this. There was a article on CNN just the other day that the I.R.S. is clamping down on those big time.
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