Built in 1919, this building served as a school for Phillipsburg and then as one of the elementary schools in the Northmont district. In 2010, the Northmont Board of Education closed it citing both decreased enrollment and the difficulties of modernizing the building. It has recently become a repeated target for vandals.
Photos Kay Dawson | Register-Herald
Apparently, a truck driver turned too sharply at the corner of Walnut and State streets and ran over the storm drain. Until this can be repaired, Street Commissioner Wendell Harleman has put boards and a sawhorse over it to protect the public.
PHILLIPSBURG — Phillipsburg Council met on Oct. 24, a week late because there was no quorum on Oct. 17, and discussed the fate of the old Phillipsburg Elementary School building.
The building has been vacant for about a dozen years and is a target for vandals. Additionally, Phillipsburg Street Commissioner Wendell Harleman reported, “the bricks on the west wall are separating from the building.”
Fiscal officer Michelle Phillips said the village has sent three certified letters to the last recorded owner. The first produced a mowing job that she said was unsatisfactory, and the second was signed for, but not answered.
“We just got the third one back,” she said. “It couldn’t even be delivered.”
Council member Chris Steiner wanted to know if the building could be declared a hazard and demolished, with the cost added to the owner’s tax bill.
Phillips said there were specific regulations to be followed for that. Since Zoning Official Mark Wysong, Sr., was unable to attend the meeting, no one present was sure of the next step.
Council members also voted to replace the furnace in the municipal meeting room. It stopped functioning last spring, and the village decided not to spend money on repairs they would not need for a few months.
At the October meeting, Harleman gave council a quoted price for a new furnace of $9,673 from New Comfort and $3,995 from J&M Heating of Union. He was not sure what brand of furnaces the two quotes included, but he pointed out the village had dealt successfully with J&M Heating before.
Members voted to accept the lower bid, although Brandon Myers added the proviso that “it is a good brand.”
Harleman also said a broken storm sewer cover on State Street (Route 49) needs to be replaced before winter. Legally, the company whose truck damaged it is responsible, but Harleman said it is impossible to determine this.
He has received an estimate of “almost 10 grand” to repair it, but he thought only the cover seems damaged with the box underneath all right. The council approved his offer to buy and install a new cover for $704 and let the curb repair wait until other curbs were repaired.
He also received approval of $350 to hire Balsbaugh Excavating to send a camera through the storm sewer to locate a blockage that is causing flooding after heavy rains.
Council Member Chris Steiner asked if all the houses were now connected to the sanitary sewer, complaining that from the smell in the air when he left for work on a cold morning, “not everyone is.”
Phillips replied that everyone was supposed to be tied in by now, but the county maintains the sewer.
Mayor Rebecca Ford also thanked Fire Chief Justin Saunders for getting things ready for the village Halloween party at the fire station from 4 through 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in the municipal building at 10868 Brookville Phillipsburg Rd.
