District 2 Monroe County Commissioner Eddie Rowland is seeking public input on how Monroe County should proceed concerning the old Smarr fire station on Evans Road. Please consider the following options, share them with others, and let Commissioner Rowland know if you have an opinion or another idea. His e-mail address is erowland@monroecoga.org
The following information is provided by Commissioner Rowland:
The old Smarr fire station on Evans Road will be discussed at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17. I am looking for input as to what to do. Please let me know if you have an opinion.
History: somewhere prior to 1914, the Rumble/Thrash family donated this land for a school. A school was constructed there and operated until the 1940s. Then it was used as a clubhouse where parties and square dances were held. Later the bay was added and it was turned into a fire station. At the time of the fire, it was currently being used as a fire house, a voting precinct, and a small quilting guild met there. It fronts Evans Road and is bordered on the other 3 sides by the Bowden family who are Rumble descendants.
Possible options:
1. Sell it to the Highest bidder. This gets it on the county tax rolls and off the county upkeep expense. If so, what would be the best use of the sale proceeds?
2. Donate it to a church or qualified organization. (Non-profit, etc.) This gets it in the hands of some other group to manage and upkeep and allows the use to have some benefit to some of the public. Downside is no taxes nor sale funds.
3. Have the county rehab the building and operate it as a clubhouse. This would be a potential benefit to the most people. However, the cost to rehab, operate, and maintain along with no sale funds nor taxes would be the most expensive option by far to county taxpayers. And with two local churches having good meeting areas, I’m not so sure it would get much use.
4. Return it to those that donated it: not very possible as the land was deeded prior to 1914. All heirs would have to be included and that would be a very expensive legal task. Hundreds if not thousands of heirs and the county can’t just pick one and leave the others out.
