In a special called meeting--which can be viewed below the photos in this story--the Emmet City Council voted unanimously Monday evening in favor of a motion to allow Hannah Hines Holdings to begin the process of renovating the former Emmet school complex for the purpose of starting a new school there.
The exact wording of the motion reads as follows: “Hannah Hines Holdings formally requests that the city of Emmet allow Hannah Hines Holdings to assume management of the Emmett School facility with the sole intent to restore the facility for working conditions for a place of higher learning.
“Through conserving the resources and good faith management, Hannah Hines Holdings will restore and conserve the facilities available to protect the young minds of the community. Then and only then will the city of Emmet transfer ownership to Hannah Hines Holdings for the sole purpose of using the facility as a center for learning and education.
“If the facility ceases to be used as a school, the property then reverts back to the city of Emmet.” The motion was read at the meeting by Treasurer/Recorder Rosalind McBride.
Before the vote, councilman Maurice Grant asked whether a lease agreement would be signed. Mayor Booker said the motion only grants permission to Hines Holdings and that once the work is done on the building, the matter would be revisited to determine the exact kind of agreement the city would make with Hines Holdings. Hines said she understood “I have to prove myself before I can even ask for the rights of the property.”
Councilman Grant Cox asked who would cover any injuries or equipment damage that could occur during the project. Hines said, “I’ll put insurance on the property.”
The motion passed unanimously.
After the vote, Hannah Hines said the first step in the process would be an inspection of the building for asbestos use to occur in the next two days. Councilman Rob Clark said he expected asbestos would only be found in the floor of the Agri building where it had been carpeted over. Mayor Dale Booker said the building's walls had already been cleared of asbestos.
Hines, who is the CEO of Hines Trucking and owner of 67 Gas and Grill, appeared at a picnic last week at Emmett’s Fireman’s Park announcing her intent to renovate the Emmet Schools facility to use as the site of a private school for students from grades seven through 12.
