The Central Oregon Community College board rejected an offer by Jefferson County to buy the Miller Lumber Building at B and Sixth streets in downtown Madras.
The building was appraised at $410,000. Jefferson County offered $250,000. The county planned to lease the building back as a new home for the Madras Community Food Pantry.
COCC says the offer was too low.
“Like most boards, councils and nonprofits, the primary responsibilities of the COCC’s Board of Directors is to ensure the college’s long-term financial health,” said Joe Krenowicz, COCC board chair. “Had we accepted it, we would not be fulfilling our fiduciary responsibility.”
“I’m very discouraged that COCC rejected the county’s offer and gave no counter offer,” said Kathleen May, the Pantry’s executive director.
There’s a reason the county’s offer for the Miller Lumber Building seems low. Charlie Miller offered the building to the Pantry for $250,000 when the board began looking for a new home.
At that time the pantry board hoped to go for a Community Block Grant to pay for the new building. But the Miller building is in a flood plain and wouldn’t qualify for the grant.
The Pantry looked at other options. Meanwhile, Miller donated the property to COCC.
Beyond that, the building is in disrepair. The county and the pantry have estimates ranging from $462,000 to replace the roof down to $100,000 to repair or retrofit the roof.
The pantry has earned a $116,000 grant it can use to remodel and repair a new building. They got the grant in January and have one year to use it. The clock is ticking.
May says with repairs the Miller Building fits their plans perfectly, with a central location, plenty of parking, space for a garden and the right amount of interior square footage for their purposes.
“Since it is a community project and they are invested in this community, and should be more invested than they are, I was disappointed,” said May. “We’re not done. I’m hoping the county will discuss it again.”
The county made the offer to COCC in January. Commissioner Kelly Simmelink says it took the board a long time to say no.
“I wish it would have been the second in a line of great community benefits (the college is) bringing to the county,” he said. “I will continue in my role to look for opportunities for this very much needed service in our community with a great sense of urgency.”
The Madras Community Food Pantry has been housed at the United Methodist Church on Northeast 12th Street for more than three decades. The pantry’s lease expires June 30th. “I’m sure the church will extend that,” said May. “But they want their space back. We take up three-quarters of their church.”
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