Wall Lake city officials have scheduled a public meeting for next week on future uses for the former East Sac County (ESC) elementary building. According to Administrator, Chris Rodman, community members will gather in the gymnasium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2 to hear the council’s proposed ideas and provide feedback or suggest other options. Rodman says some people might not be familiar with the structure’s interior, so they will be opening the doors prior to starting.
The district stopped using the building as an attendance center at the end of the 2019-20 school year, and it has sat essentially vacant since. The city is in the final stages of purchasing the property for one dollar from ESC, and the transaction should close around the beginning of July. The older areas of the building, some of which contain asbestos, will then be torn down, leaving about 12,000 square feet of usable space. Rodman says the council is considering all proposals, but there is one idea that has been brought up more than others.
Other common proposals include renting space in the building to businesses to encourage economic growth or converting it into a youth center for teens in the community. Rodman notes there is a lot of space to be used, so it is feasible that more than one option could be chosen. Rodman says the Wednesday, June 2 meeting will be the first opportunity for residents to formally present their ideas, but it won’t be their last.
Rodman adds you do not have to live in Wall Lake to attend. City leaders anticipate the building will be used by residents from around the area and their feedback is also wanted.
