The final price for the aging Moline Elementary School building and property has been tweaked a bit, but it appears everybody in the deal will be beneficiaries.
The Leighton Township Board Thursday evening agreed to chip in about $26,000 for the final $70,000 price, buyer Steve Austin will pay about $47,000 and the township will get an added three acres for another softball field for the Moline Fast-Pitch Association. The association will contribute about $4,000 to the township and has promised to take care of maintenance, mowing and upkeep.
Supervisor Steve Deer called the entire operation a winner for the township, Wayland Union schools, the Moline Softball Association, the Moline community and Austin.
The buyer last month offered the school district $50,000 plus closing costs for the dilapidated building, which has sat idle since 2003, but Finance Director Bill Melching told Austin the school would get a much better position on its remaining bond of $200,000 if it call sell for at least $70,000.
Rather than have Austin eat the $20,000, a plan was devised to have the township buy a three-acre parcel that could be used for another softball field.
Ken Ritz, representing th
e association, said Moline’s facility attracts people from all over the state to come and play or watch, so there is no question the land would be used. He likened it to the township buying park land, insisting it’s already used by families for picnics, softball practice and other recreation.
“We play four nights a week and use all three diamonds on two nights,” Ritz said.
Citizen Tom Miller, a longtime Moline resident in the audience said, “The playground and the tennis courts are used an awful lot.”
Clerk Mary Lou Niewenhuis agreed.
Miller also said his church, Moline Baptist, looked into buying the elementary building and property not long ago, but dropped the idea.
When asked how he felt about the new twist for the deal, Austin commented, “It would be a blessing to me to that you have an interest in that three acres” and he said he appreciates not having to drop $70,000 for the transaction.
Austin also said he is a softball fan and is happy to help make the Moline Softball Association continue to be successful.
The township will split the cost of a survey with the school district and split closing costs with Austin. Otherwise, the original figure was $24,418 for Leighton and $45,482 for Austin to be paid to Wayland schools.
Leighton Treasurer Char Troost at one point expressed reservations about spending as much as $26,000 while the association was on the hook for only $4,000.
“We’re trying to save enough money to buy a new township hall,” she said.
Ritz replied, “But it’s still your property and we’re maintaining it for you.”
Troost later in the meeting joined three other board members in supporting the proposal. Nieuwenhuis abstained to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
Austin is co-owner of Happy Camper Mobile RV Service and Retro Rentals of Caledonia with his wife, Shelly. They do all phases of repair and restoration for campers, motor homes and vintage campers. They also restore vintage campers for Retro Rentals.
The Austins would like to remodel the old elementary building into a combination business and residence.
The Township Board, Planning Commission and Moline residents have indicated they would be pleased to have the building saved rather than razed.
Leighton officials have promised they can work out rezoning considerations for a residence and commercial building mixed use.
But Austin has said he’d like to pursue the project with all deliberate speed to get the roof repaired before the snow flies. He will appear before the Board of Education Monday evening, Oct. 12, for final approval to proceed.
PHOTOS: Stephen Austin
Moline Elementary School
