Sarasota News Leader

06/06/2014

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During a Nov. 18, 2013, meeting hosted by Grogg's department, a May 21 memo to the board explained, part of the discussion focused on the fact that the schoolhouse is not a county asset. Therefore, the proposal was made that the commission grant the funds to the club, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation that owns and maintains the property. During the May 21 County Commission meet- ing, Grogg told the board the club members have worked with contractors, "including those skilled in historic restoration, and architects," to assess what needs to be done to preserve the schoolhouse. "[T]o remove or properly encapsulate … lead paint and then apply new paint to the main room/classroom, back room, front porch and exterior is estimated to cost between $23,800 and $32,255, depending on whether paint and materials are donated and which contrac- tor is selected," a May 21 memo to the board noted. The county's procurement policies will be used for the project, it added. The estimate for work on the wood of the structure is $10,528, the memo noted. Club members also hope to repair the bell tower so it can support use of the bell, Grogg told the board. The club is seeking donations to offset the expenses, the memo continued, with the hope that the work can be completed before the organization holds a 100th anniversary cele- bration of the schoolhouse in October. COMMUNITY PLANNING The $39,377.32 is all that remains from a $62,000 allocation the County Commission approved in February 2007 to implement the Old Miakka Neighborhood Plan, the May 21 memo explained. Since 2007, $23,357.68 has been spent in the community on roadside tree planting and on improvements to public access points for the Old Miakka Preserve, the memo pointed out. The commission also awarded an earlier $6,375.42 grant to the effort to preserve the schoolhouse, the memo added. Originally, residents envisioned a community garden and farmers market at the site of the school, the memo said. However, the farmers market would have required a special excep- tion to the zoning code. Further, the opening of a market at the nearby Crowley Museum and Nature Center eliminated the need for one at the schoolhouse, the memo pointed out. Residents also decided to focus on their own gardens instead of a community facility, it added. During the Nov. 18 community meeting hosted by county staff, discussion focused on how best to use the remainder of the funds allo- cated for the neighborhood plan. Staff also took comments by phone and email during November and December 2013, the May 21 memo noted. Based on the community meeting and corre- spondence, the memo continued, four new priorities were recommended: Sarasota News Leader June 6, 2014 Page 53

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