In a 4-to-1 vote Tuesday night Allen Community College trustees voted to take steps in consideration of selling the college farm — but with no specific time frame.
Initially, a deadline of June 30, 2015, was in the proposal to undertake certain actions if and when college administrators deemed sale of the farm advantageous.
That wording was amended at the recommendation of Trustee Jenny Spillman.
Spillman was the lone no vote in a motion made by Trustee Larry Manes to authorize administrators to take certain actions in regards to the farm.
Actions included:
* College administrators acquire a market value appraisal for the farm and the farm manager’s house and what the best method of selling the farm would be — auction or sealed bid.
* Hold discussions with Richard Zahn as to the best method to distribute funds attributable to the sale of the Zahn House. Eight ag students live in the house during the school year.
* Determine the most advantageous manner and timing for the sale of college-owned livestock currently on the farm.
* Take inventory the current machinery and equipment at the farm; determine which of it might be used on campus for the maintenance department or instructional use and plan for the sale of the remainder.
* Notify the farm manager, Jeff Nemecek, of the transfer date so that he can move his family and livestock in a timely manner. This portion originally stated, “prior to the June 1, 2015 date,” to which Spillman objected.
* Finally the motion asked administrators to consider how sale proceeds should best be handled, and that they keep trustees informed of progress on each of the tasks named above.
Possible sale of the farm does not mean the end of the college’s agricultural program. President John Masterson said many outside sources have approached him about internships for ag students on their farms.
“If we were to offer internships for the students it would beat out what we could do at the farm,” Masterson said. “We need to continue this dialogue.”
Recruitment of students for the agriculture department is still a huge concern. Its numbers have been dwindling over the years.
