The future of the former East Sac County (ESC) elementary school in Wall Lake is still undecided as negotiations continue between the Wall Lake City Council and ESC Board of Education. Discussions between the two groups are still in the early stages, and they met at the site earlier this week. City Clerk, Chris Rodman, says much of that time was spent determining each party’s expectations for the other.
He adds the district expressed some interest in utilizing other areas of the building too, but it is not clear how much of it they may want to use. Rodman says the city council is on board with taking possession of the former elementary school, but there are some potentially high costs that could come along with it. The main portion of the building was constructed in 1923 with a gym added in the early 1950s and another expansion in 1962. Early indications suggest the city would purchase the building for $1, but that still leaves approximately $250,000 in demolition expenses for the oldest areas of the structure plus asbestos remediation. Rodman says the city council does not want to be responsible for those costs.
Rodman expects a plan to be finalized very soon.
Rodman and ESC Superintendent, Jeff Kruse, will continue discussing the specifics of the building transfer and will bring the result of those conversations back to their respective councils. The two groups plan to meet again in-person at least one more time before an agreement is finalized.
