Schools try to sell two properties

Two Kalispell Public School properties may be for sale in the coming months.

At their March 13 meeting, school trustees unanimously approved listing for sale property at 33 Meridian Court along with the district’s Auxiliary Services building (formerly Laser School) at 514 E. Washington St.

The Meridian property was purchased in 2010 for $345,000 using money from a 2004 bond issue to remodel Kalispell Middle School.

The original plan was to modify a warehouse on the property as a central elementary kitchen. A total of $250,000 was put aside in elementary building reserves to purchase kitchen equipment.

Based on an architect’s recent review, the cost to renovate the warehouse was estimated at roughly $600,000, not including kitchen equipment. This far exceeded the district’s expectation of $250,000 to $350,000.

Another factor in selling the Meridian property was that adjoining land had not come up for sale as the district anticipated. The extra land would have provided adequate space for trucks to maneuver and a staff parking lot.

If one or both buildings sell, the money may be used to purchase a more flexible building, vacant land or renovate a district-owned property.

District Superintendent Darlene Schottle said if the Auxiliary Services building sold first, those services could be moved to the warehouse on Meridian.

If the district were unable to sell the buildings, a levy or bond request would need to be considered at a later time to complete renovations at the Meridian warehouse as the central elementary kitchen site.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.