DENTON — Caroline County officials on Tuesday heard concerns from a Marydel resident about the sale of the town's community hall.
Resident Joanna Reedy presented to the commissioners Tuesday, asking for their opinions and support about the hall, which is located at 130 Halltown Road in Marydel.
According to Reedy, the Marydel Community Fire Hall was built 1912, first serving as the Marydel School. Around 1948, the school closed and transition to the community hall where local events were held under the Marydel Community Hall Corporation, she said. The Marydel Lions Club, Calvary United Methodist Church and Marydel Volunteer Fire Company were within the corporation.
More recently, the Lions Club and the church have decided they no longer are financially able to support the upkeep of the building. According to Reedy, they decided to sell the building for $1 to the fire company with the understanding that the building would stay and continue to serve as a community resource.
Reedy said the officers in charge at the fire company at the time made the agreement. But since a change in leadership, the fire company has decided to sell the building because of the cost of renovations.
The change in leadership came after the fire company was investigated by auditors in Delaware for financial misconduct. Auditors said their findings revealed an “abuse” of state and county funding by the fire agency.
The fire company serves both the incorporated part of Marydel, which is on the Maryland end of the state line, and the unincorporated part in Delaware. The community hall is located on the Maryland side.
Reedy on Tuesday said the renovations included extensive structural issues, such renovations to the entire floor. She said $30,000 in renovations have already been conducted.
Reedy said while she understands the costs of the repairs, the community hall holds great importance to the residents of Marydel.
“Many residents remain deeply concerned about the possible loss of its historic community asset and strongly oppose the property being sold for private development,” Reedy said. “Given the building's longstanding role in serving the public and its historical significance within the town of Marydel, many believe every effort should be made to explore alternatives that would preserve the property for community or historical use in order to continue bringing resources and services to the town of Marydel in northern Caroline County.”
According to Reedy, the fire company is in a contract with a real estate agent with an asking price of $250,000 for the building. At the end of the contract, if the building doesn’t sell, the fire company would be open to any nonprofits interested in the building.
Reedy said her goal with making the county aware is potentially having the fire company sell the building back to the town to allow it to stay as a town entity. She said the Caroline County Historical Society has interest in the building.
Commissioners President Travis Breeding said the town would need to have ownership of the building for the county to include a letter of support for any future grants needed to renovate the building.
“I think the town would probably have to somehow acquire ownership in order for us to get funding or I guess sent letters of support for nonprofit organizations as well,” Breeding said.
The commissioners told Reedy to keep them posted on the process of the building.
