County accepts old Meeker school; future use uncertain

MEEKER I The Rio Blanco County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to accept possession of the downtown Meeker property known as the old Meeker elementary school, but they made it clear that the building is not automatically going to be demolished in favor of the new county justice center.
Prior to the vote to accept the old school, a number of residents spoke out against the commissioners tearing down the school in favor of the justice center.
“I understand that the commissioners are going to obtain the old elementary school today to turn into the new county justice center,” said Sandra Bradfield. “It is unfortunate that this topic has surfaced again. I would like to continue with other alternatives to demolishing the old school for use as a justice center.”
“For cost effectiveness, I believe the right idea is to go back behind the current courthouse,” she said. “According to a 2010 report, the building is not in that bad a shape … and the Meeker Arts and Cultural Committee (MACC) and other groups have various uses for the old school.”
“Our whole group is feeling blindsided,” Joe Conrado said. “I feel we were not represented before by the Town of Meeker. We are united and we believe in our intent to not have the old school torn down and used as the new justice center.
“You have the plans and I believe you could build the new justice center at Meeker Terrace,” he said.
Commissioner Joe Hill said, “Rangely would love to have the justice center at the old school building … and, even if that doesn’t happen, there are a lot of buildings in Rangely that are available.
“I understand there may be a state statue that says the courthouse has to be in the county seat,” he said. “I don’t know what it says about the jail being there also.”
Several other audience members named towns and cities all across Colorado where the jail and the courts are not in the same building.
Two other women at the meeting stated that placing the justice center or jail in Rangely would be the correct thing to do – sharing the county buildings.
“We want to bring economic stability to Meeker,” Bob Amick of the MACC stated. “Demolition of the school is not our plan and there is no way a justice center and jail will help bring economic stability to downtown Meeker.
“Carbondale and Salida have repurposed older buildings, and keeping the school intact could enhance our economy,” he said. “Lots of (non-profit) foundations such as HistoryColorado and the Boettcher Foundation could help with the funding.”
“If this continues, the issue could result in a citizen initiative,” Connie Theos said.
Commission Chairman Shawn Bolton expressed his frustration with the group, stating, “As it is right now, we don’t even own the building. If we accept the building, automatic demolition is not a part of our plan.
“We will most likely accept the building and take over possession,” he said. “We will do our due diligence and then decide what to do with the building.
“We are absolutely not dedicated to tearing down the old school building,” Bolton said. “It is not a done deal that it will become the new justice center.”
In other action at the board meeting, the commissioners:
n Approved an agreement for services with Intrawest, LLC to perform waste tire loading and hauling service for a waste tire collection event — not to exceed $27,000.
The mid-July event will accept up to 6,000 old passenger auto and semi tractor-trailer tires at a cost of $174 per ton.
n Voted unanimously to participate in a multi-jurisdictional application for Community Development Block Grant funds for local business loans, and they authorized the execution of the application and an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with other counties participating in the application.
With Eagle County in the lead position, these funds will be used for businesses already turned down by a bank and the loans will range from $5,000 to $100,000.