Fryburg School sells to consultants

• Billings Co. School Board

Press Photo by Sean M. Soehren Billings County School Board President Darren Baranko signs sale agreement of Fryburg School in the presence of Andy Mrnak, left, Alan Butts and Darlene Mitchell during school board meeting at the DeMores School Monday night.

Talk about it

MEDORA — The Billings County School Board decided during a Wednesday evening meeting to sell after being presented with two offers for the Fryburg School property.

“It is similar offers from reputable companies,” said Alan Butts of Pifer’s Auction & Realty. “Like most things, there never are any easy decisions. This would be no different.”

The board members unanimously embraced an offer from Marc Barra of Louisiana-based company Barra Consulting.

“It is the opportune time to sell,” Billings County School Board President Darren Baranko said. “I am optimistic.”

The Fryburg School classroom structure was built in 1969 and the gym was added in 1984. The school closed in 2000 due to declining enrollment and the school board made the decision to sell the idle facilities in December.

The seven-acre property, including the school, lagoon and mobile home lots, was valued at $450,000. An exact sale price could not be released, but it was described as “a full-price offer.”

“This is a specialized property,” realtor Andy Mrnak of Pifer’s said. “I am pleased with how relatively swift it sold.”

Barra’s offer stipulated that testing would be conducted to assess any danger from hydrogen sulfide gas, asbestos and possible diesel tank leaks within 15 days of closing. Passing inspection warranted no concerns from board members.

After weighing the two options, the school board members found the contingencies of Barra’s offer more to their liking. Financing options from the other offer could force the selling process to drag on, and for some members, the deal could not come soon enough, Baranko said.

“It has been a long, trying circumstance,” he said.

“One offer is a little bit better than the other,” said Dean Rodne, vice president of Billings County School Board. “This time, we could be done.”

As the agreement was signed, the room was full of smiles.

“I think the school board finds it to be a secure offer,” Mrnak said.

Butts said the Louisiana group looks to subdivide rooms in the former home of the Bobcats to conduct on-site safety training and proposed the new rooms be named after North Dakota veterans killed in action.

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