Charleroi gives school district 30-day notice
The borough gave the Charleroi Area School District a 30-day notice to begin demolition plans of the former Atlas Building.
The action, approved by council at its meeting Thursday night, gives the school district a month to present a timeline for demolition of the building or face fines.
Council President Paul Pivovarnik said the building had been under a demolition order since 2014, but the borough had delayed action because the school district was selling the structure.
In February, the school board approved the sale of the former high school stadium and Atlas Building to Jabo Enterprises for $100,000, contingent upon approval by the Washington County Common Pleas Court.
But prior to the school board’s March 22 meeting, Jabo Enterprises notified the district it was pulling out of the sale. During their meeting, the board voted unanimously to advertise it would accept offers for the two buildings. They are being sold as a pair, district Superintendent Ed Zelich said. The minimum asking price is $100,000, Zelich said.
The Charleroi Area School District acquired the Atlas building in 2011 in exchange for forgiving $20,000 in back taxes. At one time, the district considered using the building as a location for an alternative school.
Zelich said the district was not notified prior to Thursday’s vote.
“I’m very alarmed,” Zelich said. “I thought we had a good enough relationship with the borough that they would have approached us prior to the vote.”
Zelich said he would talk with the school board and the district solicitor today.
“Most importantly, I’m disappointed,” Zelich said. “Prior to that vote, there should have been some discussion. I’m disappointed because we’re all in this together.”