Home > Albemarle Talk > Archives > 2007 > November > 20
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
OIC doesn’t need to own building?
The Elizabeth City OIC provides many, important human services at the city-owned Hugh Cale Resource Center. The agency affects many people positively. Yet, giving the building to the non-profit, as some have suggested, would be an irresponsible step for the city. Whether or not OIC is a good or bad tenant, for five years, Elizabeth City is obligated to insure that the center functions according to rules set by the state Division of Community Assistance, which provided grant funds to build it. If those obligations are not met, the city, and the taxpayers, could have to repay the state $650,000 in construction costs. It’s wiser for the city to maintain control of the building, at least until the key obligations are met. On the bright side, there is no functional or financial purpose for OIC to own the building anyway. The non-profit is using it almost rent-free for $1 a year. For now, OIC should focus on its services, not ownership. Agree or disagree?
