Marshville council debates purchase of church property

Sam Bare
Staff Writer

MARSHVILLE -- The big question at Marshville’s Town Council meeting on Monday was whether or not the town should purchase the Marshville Baptist Church site. The church, currently on the market for $1 million, with a tax value of $692,750, is informally considered a historic landmark by many in the town.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, two citizens spoke against buying the church. Rusty Johnson said, “The town of Marshville doesn’t need to get into being landlords, to get into the real estate business.” Joy Ray agreed with Johnson and felt the money could be used for other purposes, such as building the police force.

Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Gail Kiker said the town should not purchase the building because it doesn’t have the money to buy it, but suggested making it a stipulation that the new owners cannot tear the building down. However, council member Margaret Bivens said that the only way to ensure its preservation was for the town to purchase it.

Other council members cited the need for extensive renovations, cost of upkeep and political philosophy as reasons not to buy the church. After listening to the debate, Mayor Franklin Deese requested that more information be brought to the next meeting.

Another issue concerned property that the town currently rents out at 107 N. Elm St. The council members had to decide whether to sell the property or to continue to rent it out. Some of the members felt that if they were to sell the property, the new owners would overcharge on rent. The council was advised that legally, the town can only retain the property if it serves some sort of public purpose.

A “motion to keep and maintain the property because it does keep a public purpose” was passed 4-1, with Kiker opposed. A Marshville citizen asked what that purpose was, to which Deese responded, “No sir, I cannot say what that public purpose is at this time. I will research and try to find that out.”

At this point, the town is in the process of hiring a new town administrator. A total of 86 resumes were sent in by the Sept. 3 deadline and the council is figuring out how to most efficiently review them. A discussion on the need to re-evaluate the current responsibilities of the Parks and Recreation Director was suspended until the town is closer to hiring a town administrator.

The members also voted to declare the Hamilton-Marsh House on N.C. 205, which dates from the 1890s, as a Union County historic landmark and to erect a speed bump on South Austin Street. The council discussed the town’s contract with AT&T, which allows the company to put antennas on the town water tower. AT&T wanted to renegotiate the deal in order to lower the price of having the antennas up. The motion not to revise the contract with AT&T passed unanimously.

The council also set a time and date for the annual Christmas tree lighting. It will take place on Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Plans are being made for entertainment and refreshments.