PARIS — Maine School Administrative District 17 directors approved an option agreement last week for the former Oxford County Chrysler Jeep RAM dealership at 209 Main St. in South Paris.

The agreement with owner Ancorum Federal Credit Union authorizes district administrators to conduct a due diligence ahead of potentially purchasing the 4.77 acre property and converting it for several purposes, most notably to relocate its transportation department from 30 Brown St. in Norway.

Bath-based Ancorum FCU was previously known as Five County Credit Union. It is listed on the option agreement as foreclosing mortgagee.

Oxford County Chrysler Jeep RAM was seized and closed by creditors last April. In September it was listed for sale by commercial realtor The Dunham Group of Portland for $2.6 million. Ancorum FCU has accepted SAD 17’s option agreement, which includes a $2.1 million purchase offer.

The terms of the agreement, which was approved Nov. 17, call for the property to be taken off the market until March 2, 2026, while SAD 17 assesses that the property serves its needs and develops plans and costs to refurbish. SAD 17 will pay Ancorum FCU the nonrefundable sum of $20,000: $10,000 to reserve the property and $10,000 to execute the agreement.

If SAD 17 proceeds with plans to purchase and renovate the South Paris site, residents of its eight sending towns will be asked to vote on a 10-year $3.1 million bond, with annual payments of $364,000. The referendum would be held in January.

Harriman Architects of Auburn has been tapped to render renovation plans for the land and buildings. If the purchase moves forward it would act as project  manager.

The Norway bus garage could eventually be sold, which would require a separate referendum in the future.

At Monday’s meeting Superintendent Heather Manchester told the school board that the back multi-bay garage buildings and parking lot at 209 Main St. would replace the Brown Street bus facility; provide workspace and storage for SAD 17’s facilities department’s grounds equipment, vehicles and supplies; office space for both departments; and climate controlled archives storage.

The old showroom would house Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult Education and the Streaked Mountain School programs. The groups lease space at Oxford Plaza in Oxford, at a cost of $80,000 a year.

The South Paris site would provide enough parking to accommodate SAD 17’s 30 buses and fleet of about a dozen minivans, its 50 employees, and capacity for new buses.

SAD 17’s bus garage is poorly insulated and expensive to operate, and has a poorly lit indoor workspace and parking lot.

It can hold three buses and one or two personal-size vehicles. Mechanics have to use mobile lifts to work on buses and often use wheeled creepers, working underneath vehicles from their backs.

A refitted bus garage would have heavy-duty hydraulic lifts that could raise the buses, improving work efficiencies and employee safety. 

A fueling station would also be installed in the parking lot. The three-decades-old tanks and pumps at 30 Brown St. are considered to be at their end of life. 

Transportation Director Chuck Beardsley told the Advertiser Democrat on Tuesday that three new buses are due for delivery by January, which will fill all usable parking space at 30 Brown St.

SAD 17’s Operations Committee Chair Lew Williams of Hebron and Director Nathan Broyer of the Finance Committee said both bodies recommend the project.

Williams said building a new bus garage would cost the district at least $5 million.

The district towns are Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris.