Once again Columbia County Land development has made a bad decision regarding a land use issue. The problem started when an individual decided that they wanted to open a Flea Market at the Old Deer Island School. The individual contacted school district 502 and entered into an agreement of $1,000.00 per month rent for the use of the historic building and then proceeded to haul in semi truckloads of junk onto the premises.

I live up Canaan Rd. and I saw the beginning of what I thought was a huge garage sale, thinking to myself as I drove by, that the school kids were having a sale to raise money for some venture, boy was I mistaken. The next few times I drove by I saw more and more junk accumulating on the lawn, there was also junk being put into the old play shed and then there was a old motor home parked along side the school, as well as trailers from semi's setting around on the playground. By now about three weeks had passed and I received a notice from land development to our CPAC board about giving input on a conditional use permit for the FLEA MARKET at the Deer Island school.
I was outraged that the County had allowed these people to start a flea market in a old historic school, with out the proper permits and going through proper procedure, I made a couple of calls to the county land development office to discuss what was going on, and found out that when the county was aware what was happening at the Deer Island School, they told the people that they needed a permit to have a functioning flea market, so the people came in and applied for a hearing in front of the planning commission.
In the mean time the county told the people that they could operate their flea market as long as they did not use the inside of the school building. Which they were doing.

I was furious with the county, since when does the county allow anyone to build a house with out a permit, put in their own electricity without an inspector signing off, let a lone allow a flea market to open for business, In an area that is not properly zoned for that kind of business.

When we had our CPAC meeting I actually felt sorry for the planner, by the time we got through her ears were ringing, and we said NO to the permit and was ready to go on to the planning commission with testimony that would have been against the proposal.

What were the county planners thinking, when they allowed those people to conduct business with out a permit? They were setting the taxpayers of the county up for a lawsuit if an accident would occur.

Today I received notice from the county that the people had withdrawn their permit, the county actually did their job and told then that they had to cease operation and get out! The county is giving the flea market people two weeks to remove all their junk from the school, also the school district seen that the operation was not a sound venture and felt that the goods being sold was not the type of business they had in mind.

I think the school should be kept and used to educate kids, the school has been used for many generations and is loved by the small community of Deer Island, and the building is beautiful, well built and sound. The school has a huge play yard, nice gymnasium and other covered area for a playground. The area is nice and quiet and a great place to receive part of an education. I went to Deer Island school as did my mom, my aunt and uncle, cousins, many close friends and many dear friends of the older generations that have passed away. There is a great history of the community of Deer Island, a history that helped make Columbia County as it is today we need to preserve our history and we can start by preserving the Deer Island School.

NOTE:
School District 502 wants to sell Deer Island School.


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