OEDC Briefs
OEDC leases building to Chamber, radio station
The Olney Economic Development Corporation board of directors voted to lease its current Main Street office to a radio station and the Olney Chamber of Commerce and to find itself another office.
The OEDC board held a special called meeting on July 25 to approve leases for the Chamber and for the Positive Country Network to build a studio and lobby at 108 E. Main St.
The radio station will be home to a new morning show hosted by Chad Edgington and Reed Mankins, who have been hosting Cubs sports programs for the past two years.
Tom Parker, OEDC executive director, held the special called meeting at the request of radio station owner, Tim Walker, who wanted to get started on building the soundproof booth and other modifications to the building, Mr. Parker said.
The Olney Chamber of Commerce will take over a small back office and the meeting room, as well as a storage area, Mr. Parker said.
Chamber Vice President Luke Leonard told the OEDC board that the Chamber was interviewing candidates for its open Chamber director position.
The new director would work 25 to 30 hours per week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mr. Leonard said.
The Chamber and the radio station will split the utilities for the building, Mr. Parker said.
The Chamber had previously discussed moving to City Hall.
The OEDC must now find new offices to comply with state rules that it maintain a physical mailing address, Johnny Moore, OEDC board president, said.
Facade meeting set for August
The design-build company that the OEDC hired to upgrade the building fronts on Main Street will hold a town hall meeting on Aug. 18 or Aug. 20, Mr. Parker said.
The meeting with representatives from Grossman Design Build of Mansfield, Texas, will be held at the meeting room at Fort Belknap Electric Co-op at 1302 W. Main St.
The company will study the renovation of the downtown section of Olney from Avenue B to Avenue E, east and west, including Hamilton and Elm Street, Mr. Parker said.
The town hall will provide an opportunity for the public and property owners within that footprint to discuss what they would like to see in a downtown renovation, he said.
Old City Hall renovations
The OEDC has been discussing whether to accept the title to the Old City Hall building to expedite repairs on the crumbling facade and failing air conditioning, OEDC board president Johnny Moore said.
The arrangement would allow the OEDC to work directly with Young County Commissioners “in getting tenants and deciding what upgrades” to do, Mr. Moore said.
City Administrator Simon Dwyer said the City Council “is interested” in the proposed arrangement because the City does not have the funds to do needed repairs.
Mr. Parker also suggested fixing up the ballroom on the second floor to host large gatherings and conventions.
The OEDC, which is funded by a portion of local sales tax revenue, maintains and rents several local buildings.
The City has been struggling to find a way to repair the 100-year-old building at 117 S. Grand Ave. for more than a year, after a windstorm knocked chunks of stucco material above its ornamental columns loose.
The City’s insurer said last year that it would not cover the damage, which would cost at least $150,000 to bring back to its original state.
Since then, the City has discussed replacing or repairing window unit air conditioners that cool the building, including several county offices.
The red brick building, built circa 1926, still hosues the Young County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, and the Young County Adult Probation Office, as well as the Olney Police dispatch center and the offices of Chief Birbeck and Sgt. Dustin Hudson.
The rest of the Olney Police Department, including the evidence room, jail and patrol officers’ desks, are in an attached annex.
The Police Department is in the process of converting the Ranger College Building into a new police station and will not be included in any renovations to Old City Hall, Mr. Parker said.