Nibley city, Cache school district seek ways to share space

By Aubreyann Hansen

November 10, 2008 | NIBLEY -- City Council will have a public hearing Nov. 20 for Nibley residents to voice their opinions about the city collaborating with the school district for a new meeting room attached to the new elementary school.

Scott Theobald from Design West and Bruce Parker from the Cache County School District met with the city council to discuss the conjunction.

For the past three meetings, the council has discussed the possibility and probability of joining with the school district for the new meeting chambers as well as using other school facilities. The school is located off of 3200 South and will start construction in the spring, so the council must act quickly.

The school district and Design West propose the city pay for only the extra space they would need, projected at 1,862 square feet at $170 per sq. ft. as an estimated average cost. Shaun Dustin said he is concerned Nibley citizens will disagree to the building because of costs when he thinks the conjunction is generally a good idea.

Councilman Bryan Hansen presented the project to the council members and audience. He said the city would have access to the library, gymnasium, stage, art room, restrooms, playground and fields, and the parking lot. Hansen said the conjunction gives the council new meeting chambers as well as access to other facilities.

"It's a win-win for the city," Hansen said.

"It's a win-win for the school district too," Theobald said.

Theobald said the schools are not generally used at night so allowing the city to use the building is getting the most out of the building and does not add extra hassle.

City Manager Larry Anhder said he suggests the council hold a public hearing as well as bring a resolution in case the public agrees so they can move forward. The school district is requiring an answer by the end of November.

Mayor Knight said the resolution should include an exit strategy in case the council needed a new meeting place. Parker said the school district is willing to reimburse the city for part of the money they contribute if they vacate the building.

The current building has six years left on payments.

Anhder said the current building will still be used for the courts and could also be used for additional office space which the city is in need of.

The current meeting chambers will not be able to remodel for at least two years because of the budget if the city agrees to combine resources with the school district.

However Theobald said the elementary school with added room for meeting chambers would not be ready to occupy until fall of 2010.

The city is hoping to have minimal costs to citizens on the building. Mayor Knight said with the growth of Nibley and cutting small amounts of money from different sections of the budget, the new building will not be hard to fund and will not be a big burden on the community.

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