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The National Alumni Association of
DuBois High School, which owns the
former school campus that houses the
DuBois Center, would like the town to
use about $80,000 in left-over bond
money to refurbish the gym.
George Jones Sr., the
interim director for the center, made
the request Tuesday night during the
town board’s work session, and it
appears the money will be available as
soon as the association provides a list
of estimates for the work.
Jones said the work would
include patching the leaks in the roof,
changing the windows, restoring curtains
that have been destroyed and building a
ramp for access.
The money is all that
remains from the 1998 parks and
recreation bond issue. About $2 million
of the $3.2 million in bonds voters
approved was used for the community
center, tennis courts and bathrooms at
Flaherty Park. The rest of the money has
been spent on various park projects.
“We have a ten-year window
[to spend the money],” Town Manager Mark
Williams said.
“Originally we were going to
refurbish the playing fields, but when
the alumni signed a lease with the
school system (for the modular Forest
Pines Elementary), there was no longer a
need,” Williams said. “We need to go
ahead and use it.”
The town has already spent
$145,000 or more on the gym since 1998
when the alumni association bought the
property. The town pays for the water
and sewer service to the property and
does not bill for the electric use. It
has the same arrangement with the Wake
Forest College Birthplace Society for
the Calvin Jones House on North Main
Street. The town is considering granting
lump sums to both organizations to pay
for the utilities, and the idea will be
on the agenda for the Sept. 19 town
board meeting.
“The bathrooms need to be
upgraded, too,” Williams said.
He told Jones to come back
with a list of the projects and their
estimated cost. “You are going to bid
the project out yourselves.”
Lawrence Eugene Perry, the
alumni association president, and Diane
Watkins-Laws, a board member, were also
at the meeting with Jones. |
