CORTLAND — City council has approved the purchase of a former Lakeview elementary school building for $85,000 and will have an inspection done of the interior to see what its conditions are before deciding what to do with the structure.

The vote by council drew comments both for and against the decision from several of the 35 residents who attended the meeting. Council suspended the rules and gave the motion emergency passage.

Prior to the vote, council met in executive session to discuss acquisition of property and to hear comments from residents. Council purchased the property from Amberheart Inc.at $85,000 with closing costs not to exceed $3,000.

The former Cortland Elementary School is located at 264 Park St. on 2.26 acres located across from the splash pad park off Pearl Street. The property is zoned central business district.

Mayor Deidre Petrosky said the building has sat vacant for 10 years and there is an owner, but that person lives out of the country and has kept up on the taxes for the building.

What the interior inspection finds will determine what the city plans to do with the building. Officials said they want to see if there is any vandalism or fire hazards inside.

Petrosky said if a decision is made for demolition, Brownfield funds are available to cover costs. The city would have to cover 25% of the costs to abate the property.

She said she is concerned for the safety of residents in the nearby neighborhood where the school building is located.

“It is prudent that we acquire the property and have it inspected and see if any part of it can possibly be used,” Petrosky said.

Officials said they expect there is asbestos inside.

Petrosky said the city needs to own the building in order to do the internal inspection. Petrosky said the property has no gas well on it.

RESIDENT COMMENTS

Resident Mike Matheny said the property is worth less than $30,000 according to the county auditor’s website so the city is paying much more to get it.

He said the asbestos removal will cost even more.

“The people who live around this building, for their own safety, the building should go,” Matheny said.

Finance Director Patti Gibson said the city has the funds available for the purchase and other costs. Council President Kevin Piros said when the studies are all completed, council will hold public meetings to discuss options and what to potentially to do with the building and seek public input.

“We need to get inside and see what it looks like and what is salvageable. We need to first gather information and then come back with what we find out and what costs would be involved to go forward,” Piros said.

Resident Rita Dodd said someone needs to take responsibility for the property. She said the city should go after the owner.

“There are obviously problems with the building and the parking lot. It needs to be cleaned up,” Dodd said.

Residents said there has been vandalism at the building and animals getting inside.

Other people suggested the building be taken down and the area used for a parking lot for those who go to the nearby splash pad and park off Pearl Street.

Police Chief David Morris said the police do patrol the area by the building.