Grantsville's town hall and old fire station has cracks,
crumbling foundations
and leaky roof problems
Grantsville's town council voted 4-1 last night to look at options regarding the
disposition of the town hall property.
The resolution directed the mayor and the town recorder to appoint a committee
regarding disposition of the town's real estate.
Grantsville's deteriorating town hall has been declared unsafe by an engineer a
few years ago, and employees have expressed fear over working in the building.
Large cracks are visible on the structure, in addition to foundation damage.
"We know how serious the town hall's condition is becoming," said councilwoman
Bonnie Brown. "We just can't keep ignoring the problem. I do not want to be here
when it falls in."
"I request the council to commence a process which is directed toward a
solution," said Brown.
The resolution suggested one option was to "clearly and legally" offer the property
at auction to the highest bidder, referring to part of a decision rendered this
summer by Judge David Nibert.
Judge Nibert stopped a trade deal with Grantsville businessman Steve Satterfield,
declaring it illegal, after the Morris family interests obtained an injunction. The
complaint was made by Calhoun Chronicle reporter Lisa Minney and former Morris
employee Don Harris.
Part of the injunction was directed toward the town not following open meeting
laws, according to Minney.
The resolution quoted a statement in the injunction hearing, where an appraiser
said the town property was worth $160,000, a value disputed by several council
members. It stated the council would have the right to reject any and all bids, and
would require a bidder to present a letter of credit from their bank.
The resolution concluded by stating "The town of Grantsville could use the
proceeds to build and/or purchase...a new town hall which would be safe and
operable."
Satterfield had offered to trade a lot with a newly constructed town hall building for
the old town property. He said he wanted to build a $750,000 convenience store on
the property, which would bring business traffic to the town, employee up to seven
people and help the tax base.
Businessman Jim Morris offered to trade two houses he owns in Grantsville, both
on the flood plain, for the city property. He said he would build a professional office
building on the town hall property, if council accepted his trade.
A deep hollow at the mouth of Simon's Run, already filled
with roadbeds for Rt.
16-5, could be filled to develop flat land
Morris has reportedly been attempting to build his own convenience store on the
Smith's Service Station property, which he owns, across the street from town
hall.
The Morris interests have been dealing with the State of West Virginia Highways
Department since last December in an effort to obtain right-of-way land. The state
reportedly owns land in front of or adjacent to the Morris property.
Morris is reportedly interested in deep filling a hollow which rests between the
Smith Service Station property and the Grantsville Senior Center, in an area whose
ownership has long been in dispute.
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