The Genoa school board has a potential buyer for the Brunner Elementary School building but the deal requires rezoning of the school property.

“We have accepted a buyer’s offer but the deal is contingent upon a zoning change,” said Superintendent Dennis Mock Wednesday. “Right now it is zoned R-1 and the buyer would like it rezoned B-1, like for a small business.”

The price for the pending sale of the building is $50,000, Mock said. He would not disclose the buyer’s name.

Brunner Elementary closed at the end of the 2010-11 school year, along with Allen Central Elementary, as part of a multi-million dollar school district plan to build new and consolidate its resources. The elementary school children will be bussed to the new Genoa elementary school that opens this summer on the campus now home to Genoa Middle School and Genoa High School.

Allen Central is being razed because of its structural problems. But school administrators held out hope that Brunner could be sold instead of destroyed. In the spring, the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission had granted the school district an extension to find a buyer. The deadline is this month.

The pending sale includes the one-story Brunner building and about seven acres surrounding it. The additional acreage at the Brunner property is being given to the Village of Genoa for a park.

Village Administrator Kevin Gladden said a public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m.  Aug. 8 at Genoa Town Hall regarding the rezoning request. A planning commission meeting on the issue will follow.

Genoa Village Council members are aware of the request and mentioned it briefly during their regular meeting Monday, Gladden said. However, council will not take action on the request officially until after it also holds a public meeting, which will be scheduled after the planning commission meeting.

The recommendation of the planning commission is not binding, however. Gladden said council may accept the commission recommendation, whatever it is, or move against it.

Officially, the paperwork for the land change was submitted under the Genoa School District name.

The business owner interested in the property is not required to show up at the public hearing but would be welcomed, Gladden said.

Someone will have to present details to the planning commission as to the intent for the land’s use, he explained.

“I’m sure that will come up. B-1 is a neighborhood business district, like offices and social clubs,” he said. “If you get more involved, such as selling things, there may be a lot more questions.” Gladden said he has spoke to community members and downtown merchants about the possible sale since the possible deal came to light.

“Things have been positive as far as I know,” Gladden said. Still, what happens at a public meeting is anyone’s guess, he added. “There could be no one there to speak out or you could have 30 people show up.”

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