What comes next in Olney Savings deal?
After fighting for nearly a decade for control of the Olney Savings and Loan building, the City finally acquired it “as-is” for “ten dollars and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged.” The City released the estate of Majid Hemassi from a lawsuit filed in 2014 in exchange for ownership of the prime 2.1-acre property at the corner of State Highways 114 and 79, according to documents filed by City Attorney Bill Myers with the Young County Clerk. The City’s new property encompasses three lots: 300 E. Main St., 200 E. Hamilton St. and 306 E. Hamilton St., according to the Special Warranty Deed filed last week. Mayor Rue Rogers signed off on the deal onTuesday, May 2 and Judge Stephen Bristow ordered the lawsuit dismissed the following day. The Enterprise talked to Mayor Rogers about how the deal came about and what’s next for the Olney Savings and Loan building.
Enterprise: Could you give us a little bit of the inside baseball? It just seemed like nothing was happening and then the City owns the building.
Mayor Rogers: For years and years, it seemed like we were being stonewalled every time we attempted to do something with that building or reaching the owners to see what could be done. Luckily, they ended up coming to us. They were motivated because they were probating the estate. We were here anxiously waiting and very appreciative that we could reach a compromise and a deal and get it done.
Enterprise: What was the timeframe from when they reached out to you to today?
Mayor Rogers: The attorneys from the Hemassi estate reached out to [City Attorney Bill] Myers about a month ago. And then that really kicked everything into gear. With our [City Council] meeting last Monday [April 24] and then our special called meeting yesterday [May 1], we were able to finalize everything.
Enterprise: Did the City ever give Mr. Hemassi the option to bring the building into compliance?
Mayor Rogers: They never had any intent to fix it, and their offer to us was to gift it to us. So we never discussed anything beyond that.
Enterprise: The next question is, what is the City going to do with it now? How will the City afford to tear it down and dispose of it?
Mayor Rogers: That’s really kind of where our efforts will start being directed towards moving forward. Our first thing was, let’s get the property. Then we can begin really discussing what will that strategy be on how do we demolish and clear off the building and get the lot cleaned up. Those discussions really haven’t started but upon yesterday’s approval of receiving the building, now the council can begin brainstorming.
Enterprise: Do you have any idea what you want on that spot? Has anybody approached you about that?
Mayor Rogers: I’ve gotten a lot of different opinions from citizens - from a hotel to a convenience store to a park to housing, all of the above. They’re all good options and they all have their own pros and cons. Whatever we do there, we want to do it right and do it well and make sure it really accentuates our town as people drive through and it gives that positive first impression.