Public invited to tour building

Members of the Clay Community School Corporation School Board of Trustees will tour Wallace Bros., 2067 W. United States 40, Tuesday, at 6 p.m., as a possible site for a new bus garage Anyone interested in attending the tour to may contact Central Office at 443-4461. A brief meeting will follow the tour at North Clay Middle School. [Order this photo]

On Tuesday, at 6 p.m., members of the CCSC Board of Trustees will tour the Wallace Bros. Inc., property located at 2067 W. United States Highway 40. Board members are asking anyone interested in going on the tour to contact Central Office at 443-4461 so an exact number of guests can be provided to owner Larry Wallace.

"I would like to let everyone know that (our business) is not going anywhere," Wallace told The Brazil Times. "We are staying in business in Brazil, and if the corporation doesn't buy the property then it isn't going to be sold."

He added if the corporation does buy the property, the business might relocate to its other property, located at Knightsville Road, south of U.S. 40, which the company still owns.

During the Dec. 11 regular session school board meeting, it was brought to the attention of board members Indiana Insurance would no longer be insuring the transportation building.

During the March 12 regular meeting, the board of trustees voted 7-0 to a $550,000 transfer of money to the rainy day fund from the debt service fund, which would allow for the corporation to not have to bond for the bus garage project. If the money is not used for the project, then it can be used at a later date or saved for any future construction projects.

"I like it," board member Tina Heffner said. "I don't want to bond for a bus garage as much as I want a bus garage."

Business manager Mike Fowler and Supt. Dan Schroeder gave a presentation to the board of seven options/locations for the bus garage. Board members received a packet that outlines the pro's and con's of the different locations as well as the site preparation, fencing, fueling bays and security cameras, as well as the additional operational cost.

The options include moving the transportation department to land in the Jackson Township or Van Buren area, purchase Brazil City Coal Yard, staying at the current location, purchasing the Dodge dealership located on United States Highway 40, or purchasing the Romas Trucking facility on State Road 59 and the Wallace Property.

"All of the projects are under $2 million, so no petition remonstrance would be involved," CCSC Supt. Dan Schroeder said. "Everything will have to be appraised by two different appraisers and by law, we average them together and take that amount of money. It isn't like we can go out and offer exactly what we want."

The Dodge dealership and the Wallace property are being considered because of their locations and the least amount of changes in cost for operation of the transportation department.

The board set up the time at the Wallace property because it is seriously being considered and they are asking for the input of the community.

"A working session allows for anyone who wants to come and ask questions to be able to do that," board member Terry Barr said.

The public is encouraged to attend the tour on Tuesday. Board members will meet after the tour at North Clay Middle School 6:30 p.m., in the media center to discuss the location of the property and other bus garage alternatives.