Goodland Twp. schoolhouse project stops

Nearing completion; Board says no money – no work

 

GOODLAND TWP. — The historic schoolhouse, located on property owned by Goodland Twp., continues to be in the news.

Efforts are ongoing to raise funding to complete the restoration of the historic relic, but in the meantime, the township board has put a halt to all future work, until more funding can be secured.

“This has gone on long enough,” said Twp. Treasurer Louis Parsch. “We’ve got people bringing in bills for work that was done and we do not have the money! You can’t just go and have the work done and automatically get paid for it. This board needs to have a better handle on what’s going on over there.”

The former one-room schoolhouse was brought to the township property several years ago with intentions to restore it to its original condition and be used to house township historical pieces as a museum.

While the project is close to being completed, finances to cover the remaining costs are scarce.

The township’s former board, under the direction of retired Supervisor Ron Cischke, agreed last fall to use some of the remaining ARPA funding, after an approach on Shaw Rd. is completed.

However, that project has fallen victim to several delays and broken promises to get the work done, leaving the museum project funding in limbo.

Parsch made a motion that was passed, to “cease all operations (construction work) on the schoolhouse until further notice and until we have more funds to pay for all this work.”

Township residents who have been working to organize fundraising events are frustrated that the Shaw Rd. work is not done to give them a better idea of what money may be available for the schoolhouse work.

Vicki Marr is among those trying to raise money for the remodeling project.

She reminded the board at their meeting last week, “the board said we would have money to do this work, so contractors were lined up and the work was started. We are close to being done.”

New drywall, mudding, painting and ceiling work are among the projects that have been done during the restoration.

At last month’s meeting, Cischke implored the Board to designate $10,000 and “let’s wrap this thing up. They can give the (ARPA) money back to the township after. You’d just be moving money around.”

However, again, the audience was reminded about the pending work to be done on Shaw Rd., before any leftover money would be used for other work at the schoolhouse.

Township resident Bob Walker pitched an idea to have an open house event with several special activities that could raise money for the project as well. He proposed having the special day right on the township grounds with something for everyone.

“I know the township residents, if they knew about it, would come out and support this. Let’s put out a newsletter to let them know and make this happen.”

In other township news, the board set a date of March 27 at 6 p.m. to have a special workshop meeting to begin looking at the township budget.

They also made budget amendments at last week’s meeting for line items of the Supervisor, Clerk, Elections and the township’s general fund in the total amount of $11,500.