Friday, May 17, 2019 the Vance County Properties Committee, consisting of Vance County Commissioners Dan Brummitt, Leo Kelly and Gordan Wilder, met.
Brummitt told WIZS News that the committee voted to move forward with planning for the Vance County Department of Social Services and the the Vance County Senior Center to move to the former Eaton Johnson Middle School building.
Now the committee will make that recommendation to the full board of commissioners.
Wilder said, “We are engaging an architectural firm to move forward with plans and intend to work very closely with them.”
County Manager Jordan McMillan said, “The committee met with the senior center advisory committee as well as leadership from the Department of Social Services and the senior center late last week. The committee will be recommending that design begin on Eaton Johnson to include space for DSS and the senior center.”
When asked about the former Henderson Middle School building on Charles Street, Brummitt said, “The County has taken no action on Henderson Middle School, but we would like to see it as a historical site.”
McMillan said, “Related to Henderson Middle School, the board previously took action not to acquire this building from the school system. It is my understanding the school system is exploring their options for surplussing the building with the idea that our board has recommended that it be added to the historical register and put into productive reuse.”