As town of Century tries to seek $1.5 million to fix community center; some say the town doesn’t own the property
Although no action was taken, the Century Town Council discussed the recent discovery that the Carver Community Center still belongs to the Escambia County Board of Education and how it will effect the town's application for a COVID grant for $1.5 million to renovate it.
According to Interim City Manager Vernon Prather, the building was assumed to belong to the town, but the recent grant opportunity has brought the question of who the real owner is.
Council members expressed concern about who was listed as the owner since grants to benefit the Carver Community Center have been received in the past.
“How come nobody ever ascertained that the community did not have ownership of that building? asked Councilman James Smith. “It doesn't make a whole lot of sense.”
Prather, who has worked for the town for the last two years, said he was told by former mayor Henry Hawkins that the building belonged to the town.
“Probably prior to this grant opportunity, it probably did not make a whole lot of difference whose property it really was,” said Prather. “But going through this grant application and the requirements of that grant, it became a very important question.”
Smith said he was confused how no one has ever done the research and make sure the town legally owned it. Discussion led to the alleged existence of a document that transfers ownership from the school board to the town.
Prather said the council could direct the town staff to petition the school board for the building and property, but reiterated that whoever it does end up with it is looking at a $1.5 million repair.
“There is a document that was given to the black community,” said Century resident Helen Mincey. “Nobody cares enough about it to go over there and fix the plastic that the wind is blowing. All that wood is exposed to the weather.”
Councilman Gomez said he plans to repair the plastic Mincey referred to this week.
Mincey told Councilman Smith that the document in question gives the community center to the black community and that others besides herself have the document.
Councilwoman Dynette Lewis asked about the document and whether Mincey had access to it. Mincey declined to answer, and said that the center was taken out of her hands by the person who has the document.
“I don't want to go to court, Mrs. Lewis,” said Mincey. “And that's where all this mess is headed.”
After further discussion, Councilman Smith asked about an individual such as himself, purchasing the building, but was reminded the building would not qualify for the grant in that case.
“If the thing gets torn down, it's going to be nobody's fault but our own,” said Smith. “What's going to wind up happening is, because it has not been taken care of the proper way, we may see something lost that my parents and many other went to.”
The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m., Monday, April 19, at 6001A Industrial Boulevard in Century.
