Councilman Shane Siwik answered: "What we would rather do ... (is) just close it, and let the city buy the property under the right of first refusal ... because to have a high school that is not a community center isn't a high school in my mind."

Fitts, however, would much rather see the district work to improve the school. Buying Granite High would be a last resort in his mind.

"Where's the commitment they put in place in fall of 2005?" he said.

Gray says there are no "serious negotiations" with the district right now, but the city wants first dibs on purchase rights if the district were to shut down the high school.

He envisions more green space and a permanent home for city hall, currently in a "temporary" location on the north edge of city boundaries, Gray said. But South Salt Lake has been forced to keep their headquarters there for 15-20 years because of financial constraints. While the city has since outgrown its digs, it must lease the top two floors to other businesses — a mix Gray says isn't good practice.

"I've always wanted to move city hall to the center of the city so it's not in an odd location for the city."

But he says the potential selling price — he's been told around $17.5 million — is "pie in the sky" for the cash-strapped city with only $6 million in capital revenues.

"We're just looking for dollars from anywhere. Whether we can afford to jump on a big project like that, I don't know," he said, adding a lot of studies would have to be done.

Siwik adds the city could consolidate resources by putting city and police offices in the school, then selling off that property to put towards the purchase. The facility could also be a great recreation center with a pool, he added, a use residents have wanted for years.

"The reality is a purchase of this size will have to be with the total support of the community because it will have to be a bond with the whole community," he said. "It's a huge commitment."

Selling a school to a city is nothing new for Granite District. Holladay city a few years back bought Holladay Elementary for its City Hall. But that was after the board had closed the school. Granite High is still operating.

South Salt Lake uses the historic former Columbus school as their city center, with a branch of the Salt Lake County Library System inside.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com; astowell@desnews.com