The Richwood Revitalization Committee voted 3-2 during its meeting on Thursday to continue working with Sarah Barr of Raising the Barr for a feasibility study of the former opera house and town hall building.
Aaron Smith, Tracy Plouck and Lynne Hall were not present at the meeting.
Michael Hurwitz from Telesolve Company in Reynoldsburg notified Chairman Reddy Brown that he would be available to conduct a feasibility study in January. However, Brown said he cannot personally vote to change the feasibility study agent because “we gave her a commitment.”
“I can’t fire (Barr) because Hurwitz is about to come available,” Brown said. “She thinks she’s hired and she’s on hold.”
The committee contacted both Barr and Hurwitz about the project last year. Hurwitz was not hired then because of scheduling conflicts.
Barr quoted $7,500 more than Hurwitz for the feasibility study, which puts a strain on the committee’s limited funds for the redevelopment project. Committee members Rachel Shadel, Gail DeGood-Guy and Sue McBride Bails raised concerns about the expense.
“I think we need to stick with Sarah,” DeGood-Guy said. “I hate that.”
She added that she wishes the committee initially hired Hurwitz when they had the chance.
“I think we just made a bad decision,” she said.
Committee member Donnie Ridgeway said firing Barr could “hurt us.”
Laurie Eliot-Shea, who attended the meeting as a visitor, added that she understands pulling out of an obligation could make the village committee look poorly to others in the community because Barr is a local event planner and designer.
Barr requires an architect before she will conduct the feasibility study for the Richwood Opera House.
Eliot-Shea said Barr’s later request for an architect could have resulted from the Avalon Theatre collapsing during its renovation project, which Barr oversees.
According to an email from Smith, he has made contact with three firms — Beasley Architecture, Omni Design and Triad Architects — and given them information to provide an estimate on a rendering per Barr’s request and an updated “Facilities Study of Conditions and Systems” that was last done in 1997.
In addition, the committee discussed that the next deadline for the T-Mobile Hometown Grant is Dec. 31.
The T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program will provide funds for projects “to build, rebuild or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections.”
Through the program, T-Mobile is committing $25 million to small town grants over the next five years.
According to T-Mobile’s website, towns will be selected by a panel consisting of members from nonprofits SmartGrowth America and Main Street America.
Grants will be allocated up to $50,000 per town.
Plouck wrote the committee an email, stating that she has prepared a draft of the application that can be refined by adding estimated costs for roof repair or replacement.
The committee is also working on a Capital Bill application. The Union County Chamber of Commerce has a Nov. 12 deadline for applications.
In other news:
Brown is meeting with the insurance agent on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. to discuss uses of the Richwood Opera House and determine when visitors are allowed safely in the building.
The committee plans to visit the Fort Recovery Morvilius Opera House in Mercer County, which is being restored. Brown shared pictures of the redevelopment project from the Fort Recovery Morvilius Opera House Facebook page during the meeting.
The committee tentatively scheduled a cleanup of the Richwood Opera House on Dec. 5. The goal is to pull up the carpet, wash floors and remove the partial wall above the west fire bay. After the cleanup, the committee plans to decorate the building for the holidays.