If Pike School of Art-Mississippi purchases the old city jail, McComb will need to find a location to store its records, city officials cited last week as one potential hang-up to the organization’s request to sell the facility.
Mayor Quordiniah Lockley raised the issue at Tuesday’s work session after Pike School of Art representatives approached the city at a previous meeting about buying the old jail on Front Street.
“Understand, the old jail was there when it was a juvenile detention center,” he said. “The county built a second part. That second part is being used now by the city for its depository. That’s where the records go, where the police records, city hall records, because that part is climate controlled — heating and air and the roof is not leaking.
“If you all decide you want to sell that building to them, we’re going to have to find another depository for our records.”
Lockley said City Administrator David Myers is in the process of getting the facility appraised.
“I’m just saying they’re pushing, wanting to know whether this board wants to sell the old jail, which consists of the old jail and the second part that we use as a depository,” Lockley said.
Lockley said he talked with Pike School of Art President Calvin Phelps about leasing back the part of the building with the depository for $1 a year if the sale of the facility goes through.
“However, I said what about climate control?” Lockley said. “So when heat comes on, air comes on, are you all going to pay the bill? Of course, he said no.”
Selectman Bruce Mullins said Pike School of Art will be in a position to acquire grants for rehabbing the facility if it is the owner. Phelps mentioned the same thing at a previous meeting. Mullins said the sale must be by Nov. 1 for the school of art to apply for a Building Fund for the Arts grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
“What is the condition of the building in the foreseeable future?” Mullins asked, adding that the city may have to pay for improvements if an inspection shows issues with the facility.
He also took issue with records only being in the depository.
“Why aren’t those records digitally scanned or Microfiched or something like that?” he said.
“It was the cost,” Lockley replied. “And when it comes down to municipal records, you can’t get rid of them.”
Mullins said digital records can be found in a matter of moments.
Lockley again said the expense was the reason the records were not digitalized, but he could get another quote.
Selectwoman Terri Waterman-Baylor asked if the records were fireproof.
“No,” Lockley replied. “The only records that are some way fireproof are in the vault downstairs.”
“So they’re actually not protected there anyway,” Baylor said.
