New preservation effort tries to save old Traill Theater

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Another historic Main Street building may get a new lease on life.
The 90-year-old Traill Theater belongs to Traill County — thanks to a delinquent tax bill.
Hillsboro business owners Michael and Amy Bishop are in the process of forming the “Hillsboro Preservation Foundation,” a non-profit organization with saving the theater as its first assignment.
Michael Bishop asked city commissioners Monday to help him obtain the theater from the county and save the fledging foundation $1,000 in the process.
He asked commissioners to consider a “simultaneous deed transfer,” passing the property from the county to the city to the Hillsboro Preservation Foundation “all in one sitting.”
The county has the option of selling the old brick building to the city for a token $1 fee, instead of back taxes. The city can then turn the building over to Bishop.
Bishop agreed to cover all fees, estimated at less than $15.
“Saving the money is a big issue,” Bishop said. “We can use that money instead for the initial fundraising.”
The entire process takes “a matter of minutes,” explained city attorney John Juelson. The paper shuffle limits the city’s liability, he added, minimizing concerns noted by commissioner Kyle Stern.
Commissioner Mike Lessard noted that a similar request was denied when Hillsboro Community Partnership asked for help in obtaining the south half of Union Block in March 2006. City commissioners expressed concerns at the time that the city could be liable for any mishaps involving the then-dilapidated building if the city held ownership even for a brief period of time.
Bishop said he has had the building inspected by a mason who has deemed it “sound.” He has an insurance company prepared to provide coverage once ownership is transferred.
“I’d hate to see the building knocked down,” Bishop said of the theater, which has been closed since the mid-1960s.
“I’m doing everything as quickly as I can” to prevent possible demolition by the county, he added. Bishop noted that he started the paperwork process of forming the foundation two weeks ago and he’s now waiting for the official paperwork from the state.
“The county has me under the gun. They want it done now,” he told city commissioners.
Bishop asked the city to come back with an answer at their October 15 meeting. In the meantime, he proposed the property transfer to the Traill County Commission at its Tuesday meeting. The county took no action.