Roseboro commissioners Cary Holland and Anthony Bennett listen to discussion about potential uses for the town’s train depot building that has been vacant since Sampson County Parks and Recreation closed its office in the municipality.
Staff Writer
Roseboro commissioners are continuing to contemplate what to do with the town’s historic train depot.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, mayor Roland Hall introduced two different options for the building, which has been vacant since the Sampson County Parks and Recreation closed its Roseboro office in March.
The options, Hall told the board, would be to either put a town museum in the building or allow it to be used as an afterschool care facility. He also mentioned the possibility of utilizing the facility for both.
“We need to agree on the direction to go with the park building,” Hall commented.
Commissioner Cary Holland said since the members had discussed putting a museum in the facility, then that should be the best option.
“I think we should put a museum in it,” Holland confirmed.
Hall agreed, stating that the office would be an ideal location for the “beginning of a museum.”
The mayor also noted that Snow Hill resident Geraldine Fleming was interested in establishing a private afterschool care facility there.
Doing both, he attested, wouldn’t be out of the question.
“The inside of the building would accommodate a museum and an afterschool care program,” said Hall.
Fleming, who was present, noted that she would have reservations with putting a museum in the same place as her child care, since a museum, she said, would contain lots of valuable and breakable materials.
She hoped to have her program established by August, if the board approved her idea.
“We have lots of children in need of a place for them,” Fleming stated.
While the board began to mull this option, Hall reminded members that there is an issue with heating and air conditioning that would have to be addressed before the board could approve either option.
“That will cost a lot of money, and we don’t know if we will have to get a new system,” said Hall.
Fleming stated that she was only aware that there was a problem with the air conditioning, not the heating.
Hall answered that it would be both.
Following the discussion, Holland motioned to form a committee to determine the feasibility of opening a museum there. It was approved unanimously.
Also, mayor pro tem David Alexander motioned to have town attorney Bill Poole look into the legalities of having a private afterschool program on public property. That, too, was approved unanimously.
Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@heartlandpublications.com.
Post a Comment
