Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Old school coming down

M and M Enterprises has apparently accepted responsibility for the demolition of the former Gurdon High School property and has begun tearing down part of that structure.

Workers began demolishing what was once the schools auditorium late last week, and on Friday, June 22, the demolished structure was burned. M and M Enterprise vehicles have been on the scene during the demolition process.

The clean up was initiated after the Gurdon City Council condemned the property which has been vacant for several years. Although the Gurdon School District had sold the property to M and M Enterprises of Gurdon, the deeds had not been transferred into the new owners name.

Because the school district remained the owner of record, the resolution of condemnation was sent by the city to the school. The resolution stated that clean up should commence within 30 days or a fine of $250 per day could be assessed on the property owner.

After receiving the notice from the city, Gurdon School Superintendent Bobby Smithson said the school was not responsible for the property.

On May 25, Mike McKenzie, owner of M and M Enterprises, said he did not own the property and that he had donated it to Mt. Canaan Baptist Church. However, the pastor of the church said the donation had not been accepted and that no written agreement had been made between the church and McKenzie.

During the Gurdon School Boards meeting on Tuesday, June 19, Smithson said the property has now been deeded to M and M. He said that a quit claim deed was prepared by Pioneer Abstract Company in Arkadelphia transferring the old high school property to M and M Enterprises.

"This action should settle the ownership issue," Smithson said.

Attempts to contact McKenzie at his business and home to determine his plans for the property were not successful as of press time Monday.