ASHLAND – The sole bid for the former Osborn Elementary location on East Main Street was informally rejected by Ashland City Schools Supt. Doug Marrah and members of the school board Thursday morning.
Dan Meyer of DC Meyer Masonry bid $100,000 after auctioneer Bill Stepp of Dilgard Real Estate Auctions opened bidding at $400,000, before lowering his asking price to $300,000.
The $100,000 bid came in below the reserve price the board had approved before the auction. Marrah said the board meets Monday night when they will vote to officially reject the offer and decide how to proceed.
“We’ll just keep looking out for the best person to buy it or a better fit,” Marrah said. “We have to be prudent, so for us it was just not smart at that price today.”
At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, Ashland closed Montgomery Elementary on U.S. 250 and Osborn Elementary on East Main Street, replacing them with Reagan Elementary, also located on East Main Street. The district also closed the Middle School building which was more than 100 years old and built a new building next to the High School.
An auction was originally scheduled for May 26 for the former Middle School site on Orange Street, but the auction was canceled earlier this month. One reason for canceling the auction was because the site work is not completed following the building’s demolition. Demolition started in January and wrapped up last month, but crews are still working to remove all the debris from the location.
“The other reason is we’re looking at options for the site,” Marrah said. “I’m hoping we’ll be able to have a plan in place in the next few weeks.”
An auction is still scheduled for May 26 for the former Lincoln Elementary location. Lincoln Elementary closed after the 2012-2013 school year.
“I was a principal there so there’s a warm place in my heart for it. I’d love for the right person to come along and buy that and do something great for that community,” Marrah said.
The Montgomery Elementary location was sold at auction in September for $2.3 million to TravelCenters of America, the owners of Goasis, which is located just off I-71 across the street from the property.
“At (Interstate) 71 we did real well because it’s at 71 and the location is ideal,” Marrah said. “What a blessing that’s been to us, it’s turned out great for us, being able to put that money back into the bus garage, maintenance facility and offices.”
