Low bids disappoint Tecumseh School Board as it seeks to sell Tipton building

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

The Tecumseh Public Schools (TPS) Board of Education’s finance committee gave recommendation, during Monday night’s regular meeting, for the sale of the Tipton School building, though bids came in disappointingly low at a recent public auction held Friday, Dec. 3.

The highest bid came in at $37,500 from Life House Ministries, a Tecumseh-based church started by Brian and Denise Grothe nearly three years ago.

While the bid was much lower than anticipated, TPS Chief Financial Officer Bill Wright said the district currently pays $22,000 a year to maintain the building, which hasn’t been used by the district in more than a decade, although Head Start did rent it up until a couple of years ago.

The Tipton School building was appraised at $548,000 two years ago, but Wright noted that that was before the real estate bubble burst. Board President Ed Tritt cautioned board members against agreeing to sell the property for too little money in light of the recent appraisal of the administration building for the potential sale to Lutheran Social Services. That building was appraised at $493,000.

“With that big a difference we are going to get crucified,” he said.
Board Secretary Jim Rice agreed with Wright and the finance committee, noting the maintenance cost savings and the potential for increased maintenance costs as the vacant building ages.

“I say at this point it’s [Tipton School] probably worth what somebody will give for it,” he said. Trustee Matt Oren concurred. “My thought is to get out from under it,” he said. “Schools all over the state are for sale because everybody’s closing.”
Life House Ministries currently meets at Word & Worship Family Fellowship building at 28 Cairns in Tecumseh. Brian Grothe said the Tipton building would be used by Life House for worship space with the potential for other uses.
“It could be a real blessing to the community. We are trying to be open minded about what the various possibilities are for the facility,” he said, adding that the group is community oriented and has already helped with such local ministries as God’s Bread Basket, the Care Pregnancy Center and the Lenawee Mission. Board members will finalize a decision at the Dec. 20 meeting.