Sold!

Lettering on stone insets at either end of the south front will still read "Hartley Public School," but the longtime landmark on First Street Southeast is about to be "reinvented."

The sale of the former Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn TK-4 building was authorized by the school board following a public hearing on Dec. 1. A bid of $100 was submitted by Michael Reese on behalf of Hestia Investments.

After submitting the lone bid for the building, Reese summarized information from the presentation he made to the board last month. Interest in obtaining the building came after the district had earlier announced intentions to pursue its demolition.

"We didn't even know about the school," he explained. "We quickly got up to speed on how to make the school an asset to the community."

Reese clarified that renovation of the building would be financed through a group of companies and not only by Moving Mountains, the non-profit which will coordinate programming housed in the facility.

"If we were just a developer, this wouldn't make any sense," Reese said. "The reason why we are 100 percent confident that we will be successful is because we are drawing in from all of our other businesses."

According to the presentation, plans are to physically convert the building into a safe and efficient facility; implement and manage ventures so they can thrive; and execute initiatives that "complement needs of the community with an emphasis on children, students and families in O'Brien County."

Reese said programming "is where the rubber meets the road."

Uses of the building are designated in three "zones." Youth-oriented programs will be housed in the west wing; apartments for professionals will be created on the second floor of the main building; and community/business oriented ventures would be housed on the first floor.

Concerns regarding viability of the proposal were expressed by Hartley city officials. They are concerned that responsibility for the property would fall to the city if the venture fails.

"We do not want to be responsible for this if it goes under," said Mayor Rod Ahrenstorff.

"We have our concerns and skepticism that we might get it back," added Council Member Mary Westphalen.

Reese responded that he had signed a letter accepting responsibility for the building should the venture fail.

"When we start investing money into a project, we won't walk away from it," Reese said. "If it did fail that letter absolves the city."

There was also positive reaction from those in attendance.

"Is there a good reason not to sell it? What does it say about our city to let that building get to the point where it might be torn down," asked Justin McCarty. "They have skin in the game. I think we should sell it and not operate out of fear."

In response to questions regarding the cost to demolish the building, Board President Scott Heetland said the amount was approximately $750,000.

Four board members voted to accept the $100 bid. The lone dissenter, Ryan Haack, expressed the same concerns he voiced following the initial presentation last month.

"I do not feel we have enough information to make a decision to sell and not even enough to decide not to sell," he said.

Getting renovations started is a priority once the sale is finalized. Reese said the west wing roof must be repaired immediately due to its condition. Interior demolition and renovations will also begin at once, and conversations with community members will determine needs and desires regarding issues such as daycare and a youth center.

"The key is to complement, not replace, existing services in the community," Reese said. "We will simply pivot if the needs and desires change."