PRESQUE ISLE – A soon-to-be-vacated building is in the hands of the city now that city councilors have made the decision to purchase it.

Councilors voted unanimously Monday evening to allocate $3,000 to purchase the small American Red Cross building facility at 141 State St.

The Red Cross is expected to vacate the building by the end of the month and move to another site.

Councilor Ron McPherson said he felt councilors would be making a good decision by agreeing to the purchase.

“The building price is right,” he said, adding that it also was located near the downtown and close to restaurants and stores. “I’ve got a few ideas in my mind that the building could be used for.”

Councilor Don Gardner wondered how much it would cost to heat the building between the time it is vacated and subsequently rented or sold.

City Manager Tom Stevens said heating and electricity costs were expected to be “minimal” at the small building, but said he did not yet have exact estimates.

Gardner was somewhat hesitant to purchase the property.

“I can’t see spending $3,000 with no definite plans for the place,” he told other councilors. “Give me some specifics or some possibilities for it.”

Stevens said the building could be used for office space, adding that he’d had an inquiry about the facility from one organization in the area that “might be interested” in the site.

“I feel it is a great place for a truck brokerage, a potato brokerage or something along those lines,” added McPherson. “There is also a potential to rent it out to small civic organizations and clubs.”

Councilors eventually voted unanimously to purchase the site.

jlbdn@ainop.com

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