The former Blytheville Charter School (also known as Fairview School), located at 379 Tennessee Street, has been sold by the Blytheville School District.
Despite having an appraised value of $500,000 (in April 2014), the Blytheville School Board agreed to accept a bid from Word of Truth Global Ministries of Blytheville, pastored by Bishop Sonny Osagie, for $26,022.50 "as is."
It is expected that the transaction and transfer will take place within the next few weeks, once the abstract and legal description are finalized and the contract is drawn up and signed.
The 50-year-old building has been vacant for over two years and, at one time, the City of Blytheville considered purchasing the property for use as a new wastewater lab and office, as well as for their police department.
In April, 2015 it was announced that the city had $155,000 budgeted for the construction of a new wastewater lab, but that a GIF grant of $25,000 would have to be returned if the city chose to go that route. Councilmen, at the time, also said that the city could perhaps apply for renovation grants if they did.
The City ultimately decided to go with Jower's General Contractors bid of $139,531 for the construction of a new wastewater office and lab building.
As late as this month, the Quorum Court also considered taking over the building for use as a Senior Center.
However, it was estimated that to complete all necessary renovations on the building would cost $1,297,947. The estimate included architectural and engineering work, asbestos testing, repair to the facade, demo and replacement of ceilings, removal and replacement of floors, demo of interior partitions to fit their new layout, refinishing of doors and installation of new hardware, installation of new casework, finishing and painting, servicing and replacing all HVAC units, replacing duct work and registers, lighting fixtures and electrical devices and a 15 percent contingency, which Maddox and justices agreed may or may not be sufficient if asbestos is discovered in the building and has to be removed instead of sealed into the old flooring. The estimate also covered renovating only 17,000 square feet, or 40 percent of the total building.
Blytheville School District Superintendent Richard Atwill said: "It is good to see a building that still has worth being used and not left to deteriorate and detract from the neighborhood. I pray that many good things will bloom forth from that building, as it has in the past."
Bishop Sony Osagie said that the property will be a community building. His church will be relocated to that property, but there are more plans as well. Osagie said that the facility allows for them to expand their existing food program. There will also be an after school program, a bookstore and possible even a restaurant..."a place for the needy."
"The place, first of all, will be a place for signs and wonders that will change the lives of people through healing and deliverance," Osgaie said. "We were really ecstatic and overwhelmed when we heard that we got the building. We've been praying about that building for about a year. God has been faithful and that's why it is not just for our church, it's for the community. God has great plans for this building that will be unfolded overtime."
In other business during the regular January meeting of the Blytheville School Board, the board agreed to allow advertising on buses. The advertisements may be placed "on the rear quarter-panels of the exterior of the bus, at least three inches behind the rear wheel and not closer than four inches from the lower edge of the window line." It also must be "at least three inches from any required letter, lamp, wheel well, reflector, or emergency exit" and "within a block no larger than 30 inches in height and 60 inches in length."
All advertisements shall also contain the phrase "paid advertisement" in a place, font, color and size that is easily read from at least ten feet away.
Policy 7.24, which was passed by the board, allows the district to "use the legally provided space on district school buses for purchased advertising space and to place any items created by the district's information office."
It will be the responsibility of Superintendent Atwill to "develop procedures for soliciting proposals for advertising, as well as guidelines for the review and acceptance of advertisements."
The School Board, or its designee, "shall approve each advertisement before it is displayed on a district bus" and reserved the right to reject any advertisements that "it deems inappropriate for the school setting." This right of refusal remains, even if the district contracts with a third party for soliciting advertisings or for developing the program.
Proceeds from the advertising "shall be accepted solely for the purpose of generating revenue for the district transportation program and not for the purpose of establishing a forum for communication. All revenue the district receives from advertisements shall only be used to reduce district transportation costs."
The policy also states that no advertisements shall be accepted "for a political candidate, political party, the adoption of any bond/budget issues, or any public question submitted at any general, county, municipal or school election."
Nor may it be "of an obscene or pornographic nature," nor "promoting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, firearms or similar products," nor "otherwise deemed to be inappropriate for minors."
Acceptance of an advertisement shall not be "construed as approval or endorsement of any product, service, issue, organization, activity or position referenced."
thenry@blythevillecourier.com