The Marshall City Council received public comment Tuesday, Feb. 18 at a work session focused on the future of the Eastwood School building and site.

The 45-minute session featured comments from a pair of residents who were hoping to see the city consider a change from the current plan of Marshall Public Schools tearing down the century-old building before turning the seven-acre lot over to the city. One resident, Sandy Hisle, suggested that the city request bids for developers to purchase the building and convert the school into apartments. Mayor Vince Lutterbie says any changes would see the city take over responsibility for costs involved with the future of the site.

Lutterbie noted that the ultimately unsuccessful efforts to redevelop the former Fitzgibbon Hospital building are factoring into the city’s thinking for Eastwood.

Lutterbie says he welcomes additional comment from the community, but says time is short as the school district will need to budget and seek bids for demolition of Eastwood School if there’s no change in plans.

The work session preceded Tuesday night’s Marshall city council meeting, where the council received the annual reports from Marshall Municipal Utilities and the Marshall Police Department. The council approved the appointment of Cody Painter to the planning commission for a term ending in November, while councilman Don Brandt will go onto the commission for a three-year term. The council also formally appointed Elizabeth Bellamy the city attorney and renewed the agreement with the the Saline County Emergency Management office.