New CCCOA building proposed for Minnora site
The Calhoun Building Commission will likely decide today what happens with the old Minnora School property.
The Building Commission could follow the county commission's recommendation to sell it to the local senior citizen's center for $50,000, or put it on the auction block with a minimum bid of $50,000, or some other creative transfer of the property back to the Minnora Community Center.
Selling the old complex at bid to another party, exceeding the CCCOA bid, would likely be the end of the property being used for community services.
The Calhoun Commission has said the ownership of the old Minnora School property by the Calhoun County Committee on Aging is the best bet to maintain community services.
Several former and current board members of the Minnora Community Center disagree.
The County Commission has said they can no longer afford the property, pay its insurance premiums or help maintain the building.
They do not want the property, nor do they want to keep leasing it, with it reverting back to the commission.
The Minnora Community Center gave up their lease on the property over a year ago, sending it back to the county after suffering financial problems.
Now, they want it back.
Former MCC board member and county commissioner Larry Cottrell and current center president Kenny Bailey is leading the effort to
have a community center operated by a local group.
Neither have clarified what has changed that makes it easier to finance the operation under their ownership.
Cottrell has accused the county commission of wrongdoing, saying their actions have "a quality of gross disrespect." Cottrell has charged officials that "deals like this are sudden and secretive and corrupt underneath."
Commissioner Sampson said "We've done everything we could to help the center," since the county has owned the building. "They kept all the rent and we paid their insurance."
"They have had a good bunch of volunteers over the years who have worked hard," Sampson said.
A new senior citizens center building is proposed for part of the property. CCCOA Director Mike Ritchie said it should be on site by early fall, but it could be a little sooner.
Ritchie told Bailey and Cottrell Tuesday during at meeting at Minnora that if they had the money to buy the building that would be o.k. "We didn't want to get in this conflict We just wanted to help the community and the county," Ritchie said.
The new senior center is planned for a lot on the upper end of the property, formerly a ball field. Donna Jordan, former president of the MCC, objected to the use of the field for the new senior center.
Jordan claimed the MCC was not adequately notified, the same case now being made by Cottrell and Bailey.
Commissioner Rick Sampson said he notified Bailey the same day it came up at a commission meeting, and CCCOAs Ritchie said Bailey attended a meeting of his official board, discussing the issue at length.
Ritchie said "We have always wanted what is best for the community, and regret that it has been a controversial issue. We think our center will be first-class," and said if CCCOA owns the whole complex, "we'll try to make a go of it."
"It has been exciting to see this project (new senior center) get launched," Ritchie said. "We have a great group of seniors in that area and this building will offer them first-class service," he said.
The 26 x 50 foot structure is being pre-built by students at the Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center, and will be moved to the site by a moving company.
Ritchie said he was well-pleased with the quality of construction by the students. "It has been a great deal for the senior center. We are purchasing all the materials and paying the school $3,000," he said.
Simonton Widows in Ritchie County is donating windows for the project.
CCCOA has been granted $100,000 Budget Digest money through Del. Bill Stemple and $28,000 obtained through Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito.
Ritchie said the additional funding from Congresswoman Capito will be used to make sure the building is handicapped accessible, pay for the installation of a septic system, drill a water well and develop a parking lot.
Site for new center is adjacent old Minnora School
"Excess money will be used for equipment, and it could be used to build a porch on the building or possibly build a multi-purpose room," Ritchie said.
The free-standing center will replace the use of converted classroom space in the old school building, where the seniors have paid $400 a month rent for several years.
The old building has numerous problems, from leaks in the roof to water that is not drinkable. | 
