On the evening of Monday, September 7, the Mebane City Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint use of a new elementary school gymnasium with Orange County Schools, to be constructed along West Ten Road at the site of a future OCS elementary school.
If the MOU ultimately comes to pass, Mebane will commit nearly $400,000 over a decade in order to upgrade the gym, and allow for the city to use it for recreational and other purposes after school hours.
At the September 7 City Council session, Mebane city attorney Lawson Brown presented town leaders with the memorandum of understanding regarding a joint use agreement for the new elementary school gymnasium being constructed by OCS.
“This discussion arose on a joint use agreement because Orange County Schools, through the Orange County government, are constructing an elementary school, and they have requested or discussed being annexed into the city,” Brown explained. “They are building a gymnasium as a part of this project. In the discussions, staff-wise, we felt it important to have use of that facility at the cost that they are (constructing the facility at).”
“Orange County is building the facility, and the Orange County School System has agreed to that,” he continued. “This agreement that we have for the joint use of the agreement is after school hours, and consistent with the Orange County school system policies and procedures.”
“They’ll have to apply for annexation, and you all (the City Council) will have to have a public hearing (and) make a decision on the annexation. So this agreement is contingent upon the annexation as well, in addition to the financing portion, that will have to be under a different memorandum of understanding with Orange County.”
The estimated cost for the city is approximately $381,547 over a 10-year period. These funds cover necessary upgrades to make the gym suitable for city use, including bleachers, a vestibule, ADA compliance features, and additional space/lockers.
“We’re not we’re not so much paying Orange County for the use of the gym as much as we are paying for the additional space, lockers, vestibule clearances that would be necessary for us to use it,” said Council member Tim Bradley. “Our cost - the initial $380,000 - is basically an estimation of additional construction - the additional 10 feet (of gym space), the bleachers, the vestibule, the et cetera that would be really required. ADA stuff that would be required for us if we were to build a city gym.”
In all, the upgrades would add approximately 875 square feet to the new OCS gymnasium. The agreement is contingent upon the city entering into a separate financing agreement with Orange County and the successful annexation of the property.
“We felt like it was really a great cost-saving measure,” Brown added. “We had friends work up a cost of the of a comparable facility if the city were to build that, and that cost was dramatically more. It seemed like an opportunity for the city to expand its facilities for recreation for this elementary age group that we are seeing a need for.”
Assistant city manager Preston Mitchell noted that the new elementary school is expected to open in 2029. While the facility will serve recreational needs, it was clarified that the gym’s size and lack of specific infrastructure, such as showers and generators, would it unsuitable for future use as a Red Cross emergency shelter.
“The gymnasium is an elementary school gymnasium,” Brown said. “It would not be usable as a shelter, as you all (the Council members) have discussed in the past, because of the size and the limitation on space, etc.”
In the months and years to come, the city will need to address annexation and zoning for the contiguous soccer facility, located adjacent to the proposed new OCS elementary school and gymnasium, as well as Gravelly Hill Middle School and associated property.
“Orange County Schools and Orange County have determined this is the site they want to move forward with,” said assistant city manager Mitchell. They’ll be coming to talk about annexation, zoning, and the special use permit process in the future.”
The Orange County Commissioners have specifically prioritized annexing Gravelly Hill Middle School, as well as the soccer facility and future elementary school, into the Mebane city limits to cut costs on water and sewer services. Mayor Ed Hooks suggested exploring similar flexible joint-use agreements with Alamance Burlington School System (ABSS) in the future.
“This is fantastic in the fact that we bought some land not far from here for recreation. So as we go through time, using this facility will ease (pressure on other city facilities),” said mayor Hooks.
“I want to echo what the mayor is saying. This is a phenomenal opportunity,” added council member Sean Ewing. “So thank you for this. This is great. Thank you staff, and thank you to Orange County for investing in the kids and education here in the City of Mebane.”
Following the discussion, a motion was made by Ewing to approve the memorandum of understanding. The motion was seconded by Katie Burkholder, and the council voted unanimously in favor, authorizing the city manager and staff to execute the agreement.
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