COAL GROVE – The former Monitor Elementary building could give the village a place to start up a number of community service activities, such as a daycare center, a senior citizens’ facility, a local history museum or an afterschool tutoring program, officials say.

Wednesday, March 29, 2000

COAL GROVE – The former Monitor Elementary building could give the village a place to start up a number of community service activities, such as a daycare center, a senior citizens’ facility, a local history museum or an afterschool tutoring program, officials say.

But without the necessary funding to upgrade and renovate the former Dawson-Bryant school, the community doesn’t see a way to utilize the historic structure, residents said at a public meeting Tuesday night.

"The meeting was not as enthusiastic as I would have thought," said Juanita Markel, chairwoman of the Monitor Planning Board Committee. "But I was pleased with the response. We did get more concern about the cost than what could be done with the building. But they did want to keep the building."

It will take some time and effort to discover the best possible use for the building, Mrs. Markel said. But it will be worth it. The community doesn’t want to see the building deteriorate.

"I’m all for the building," said Ruth Neal. "I don’t want to see it torn down. There’s so much that could be put in there and it would be a benefit to all the kids. There’s a lot we can do with that building."

And if grant funding can be obtained for renovation costs, the Monitor building could house several activities that would be beneficial to the community, the more than 25 residents at the public meeting said.

"If you’re going to have different things in that building, one room should be for senior citizens," Ann Click said. "They could go there and sit and have coffee, maybe build a puzzle. We have a lot of senior citizens in the village. People get lonely. It would give the senior citizens something to look forward to doing."

Not only could senior citizens benefit from assisting children in an afterschool educational program, but children who normally go home to an empty house would have a place to go afterschool that had supervision and fun projects, said Juelda Collins.

"We could have children come in and there could be computers," Mrs. Collins said. "If we get the senior citizens involved, they could coordinate programs for the children. A lot of them are going home to empty houses and I’d like to see a place where they could go afterschool and get help with homework or learn a craft."

Giving children more opportunities will keep them off the streets and perhaps make them into better citizens, Mrs. Collins added.

"I think it’s important," she said. "Children can only learn so much in school. They need supplemental activities."

Armed with these possibilities for the Monitor building, Coal Grove Mayor Tom McKnight plans to discuss grant availability with Ralph Kline, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization director of community development.

Once the initial renovation work is completed, the community can rent out rooms in the building to help pay for upkeep and utilities, McKnight added.

"Down the line, we will know more about what we can and can’t do," McKnight said. "And we’ll find other ways to get income. But if we don’t do anything, a beautiful old building is going to deteriorate. It won’t cost us anything to try."

And area residents have no reason to fear additional taxes, Mrs. Markel said.

"There’s no way anyone can raise taxes unless you yourself vote to raise the taxes," she said. "And raising taxes has never been mentioned by anyone on this committee."

For more information on the Monitor building, to volunteer to help or to make a contribution, contact Mrs. Markel at 532-1033 or committee member Jim Matney at 532-8044.

Other committee members include Judy Carey, Beverly Gillian, Eric Holmes and Ray T. Dutey.

Once more is known about grant availability another public meeting will be planned, Mrs. Markel said.

"After Mayor McKnight meets with the CAO and reports to me, I will compile a report and we’ll have another meeting," she said. "We’re not going to let this drop. We’ll keep pushing it until we have a reason to stop it. I didn’t think it would happen overnight. It will take at least this year to get a concrete idea."