Farmington mayor seeks interest in church building

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Aug 30, 20120

If you inherited a former Methodist Church, what would you do with it? It’s a question facing the town of Farmington and Mayor Ron Dugan.

The city was given the downtown building in 2009, in an agreement which stated the city would not sell it for 15 years.

They are allowed to lease it or rent it.

For the past three years, the white church has stood empty, in the heart of town, just up from the community center/town hall/library.

“It’s just sitting there deteriorating,” said Dugan. “That doesn’t seem to be an option for what to do with it.”

The church has water damage in the basement and the exterior paint is chipping.

“I’d like a committee to get together, maintain it and put it to use,” said Dugan.

The Farmington maintenance department keeps the grass mowed around it, and in the past year, has vacuumed flies out of the sanctuary and clipped the bushes on the outside.

“Like Al Gore said one time, there is no prevailing legal authority,” said Dugan.

The church did not want the building to become an eyesore, thus they stipulated that it could not be sold for at least 15 years.

In dissolving the church members gave the city a donation of $10,000, which the town used to paint the community center. The former pulpit is now stationed in the city council chambers.

Mayor Dugan moved it there so those speaking before the council have a place to stand.