Richwood Council is switching gears, now considering demolishing the Opera House.
At the regular meeting on Monday, council reached the conclusion that if they are not going to replace the lost truss, then they won’t be able to put the building up for bid as had been previously discussed. The plan would still involve saving the clock tower portion for further use, however.
Council member Donald Ridgeway, who is also on the Opera House Committee, brought in the committee’s proposal.
The proposal included the committee’s recommendation to use the $150,000 capital grant to replace the lost truss with a resolution explaining the building’s value is compromised to the point of not being able to sell.
Ridgeway said he has a buyer who is interested, but only if the truss is in.
“No one is going to bid it if you don’t put the beam in,” Ridgeway said.
Mayor Scott Jerew said he can’t see them putting a truss in it.
“I just don’t see how you put $150,000 in it and sell it for $30,000 and expect the taxpayers not to go crazy,” Jerew said.
Council member Pat Morse said they answered their own question.
“We’re not going to put the beam in it (and) no one’s going to buy it with no beam, I think we’re done,” Morse said.
Jerew said he previously received an estimate from Fisher to demolish the building and save the clock for $32,000, but that was a few years ago.
Also in the committee’s proposal was a draft of the deed stipulations for the opera house from Council President Reddy Brown and Preservation Ohio’s Thomas Palmer, which were previously requested from council if the plan was to sell the building.
Council member Brad Plotner brought up the idea to use the capital grant to build a new tower with the clock.
“We might still have the cost of taking it down, but if you could gain that money back, where you put a nice park there with the tower and the clock in it,” Plotner said.
Jerew said there is money available for green space and mentioned an idea of getting a sponsored park there.
Although council is pursuing this direction, there was no official decisions made.
“So basically what we need is what Fisher’s price is to tear it down and whether or not the beam money could be used to build another tower,” Plotner said.
In other meeting action, new legislation passed that will increase the price for water service provided by the Village of Richwood.
Council voted to approve the $10 per month Water Capital Improvement Surcharge to the current water rates in order to maintain the water service and meet debt obligations for the new water treatment facility.
This change comes as part of an ordinance the village council adopted in 2021 that amended the rates charged for water service.
Village Administrator Monte Asher said construction for the water plant starts July 10.
Another piece of legislation was introduced that would prohibit paddle boards from the Richwood Lake.
Jerew said that he has had people call him about paddle boarding.
“Unfortunately, I was advised that we should not allow paddle boarding on the lake,” Jerew said.
He said that Village Solicitor Julie Spain advised him and that the concern was about insurance.
Council did not enter into motion on the first reading. Jerew said he will contact the insurance companies to hear more.