Former UMC church building becomes Farmington project

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Mar 26, 20140

The Methodist Church building in Farmington may be in use again in the next few years.

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

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

Farmington’s new mayor, James Woomack, and a new part-time maintenance man have been removing molded panels in the basement as part of an effort to put it to use by the end of Woomack’s time as mayor.

“I’d like to have it done by the end of my job here,” he said.

In the interest of learning about potential funding opportunities, Woomack went to a Washington State Historical Society grant application workshop in Spokane March 17.

“I went to find out what would be available,” he said.

He learned that the minimum grant the society awards is 33 percent for a $25,000 project. That would mean Farmington would have to put $16,500 into the project.

Woomack believes the work can be done for a lot less.

He indicated that the two main areas of work that need to be done is cleaning out mold from the basement, and the other is painting the exterior.

The building would also need to be made handicapped accessible if it is to be used for what has been proposed as the town library or city hall.

Right now, the library, clerk’s office and mayor’s office are in one corner of the community center building.

Woomack is taking the church project one step at a time.

“Right now the biggest problem is getting the mold out of it,” he said.

Some research Woomack’s done has led him to believe it may be a little easier than previously thought.

“I didn’t realize there was a mold bomb, like an insect bomb,” he said. “First we’ll take all of the paneling out, then wash (the walls) down with bleach water, then put the mold bomb in to kill the spores.”

Assisting him has been a part-time maintenance employee paid for by the Rural Resources Community Action Agency, a program from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

“I saw no reason not to use the talents and resources here and it won’t cost us anything,” Woomack said. “If I didn’t take him, some other city would be offered, so I’m not saving the state money by not taking him.”

The Farmington resident is starting his third week.

“He’s doing very well so far,” said Woomack, who has the option to hire him later.

Also, while dissolving the Farmington church, the church gave the city a donation of $10,000, which the town used to paint the community center.

Another way the church has benefited the city is its old pulpit is now stationed in the city council chambers.

Previous mayor Ron Dugan moved it there so those speaking before the council would have a place to stand.