[December 31, 2011] Valdese eyes buying WSVM property [The News Herald, Morganton, N.C.] Tweet (News Herald (Morganton, NC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dec. 31--VALDESE -- The building and property that house WSVM 1490, a 1,000 watt AM radio station in Burke County, may soon have a new owner -- the town of Valdese. Valdese Town Manager Jeff Morse says the town wants the property at 1117 Praley St., but not for the station. The land is adjacent to the town-run cemetery, and Morse says the town wants to tear down the station to expand the cemetery. Morse says the current graveyard will fill up in about eight years. The town sells on average 25 burial plots a year. The 1.33 acres of land would provide about 450 more lots, enough capacity for 18 more years once the current property fills up. The town council approved the acquisition of the property for $70,000 in a unanimous vote Friday morning. That is less than the current estimated county tax value of $95,875. Morse said Councilman Keith Ogle was out of town and could not attend. Council members felt the cemetery was an important service they wanted to continue providing, Morse said "We've always provided places (burial plots) for our citizens," he said. Morse says he hopes to close on the deal by late June. The bulk of the funds used to buy the property will come from the town's 2012-13 fiscal year capital reserve fund, Morse said, though the town may make a down payment in January from contingency. Morse says the town will sell the radio equipment to offset some of the costs. "We're pretty sure we can sell it (the equipment)," Morse said. "There's a good market for it." Valdese will also try to find a buyer for the broadcast license. Morse says the property is coming on the market because Bannon Broadcasting Company will not renew its lease when it expires Monday, potentially ending the station's 50 years of broadcasting. When reached for comment, station manager Jim Bannon said he wasn't interested in talking with The News Herald. This wouldn't be the first time the transmitter has gone dead. The station was silent from May 31 to Sept. 1 in 2010. Management and lease agreements have changed four or five times in recent years, Morse said, and Atlanta-based GHB of Waxhaw is looking to sell the property. A source close to the station says several people may be interested in leasing the station from the town in the short term and moving the transmitter at a later date to keep WSVM broadcasting. ___ (c)2011 The News Herald (Morganton, N.C.) Visit The News Herald (Morganton, N.C.) at www.morganton.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]