Pittsylvania County is giving a gift to the Town of Chatham. But the town isn't so sure it wants to accept. At a county board meeting, supervisors voted to give the former Chatham Elementary School building over to the town.

It seems to be a gift no one really wants. The county doesn't want the former school building.

Tim Barber, County Supervisor - "I don't think we'd remodel that building, its not very economical and its not very efficient building. I don't know if it would suit the county's needs."

So, they decided to give it to the town of Chatham. But if Chatham doesn't want it, can you call it a gift?

Mike Jones, Chatham Town Manager - "I don't really know what to call it, they've told other people about the gift but they haven't told myself or members of town council."

It's a piece of history and some supervisors say it's not the county's to keep.

Barber - "It belongs to the town of Chatham, it's their history and want it to be preserved and the people in that town are very passionate about it and I thought this is the best way to preserve it."

The only way to preserve the building, is to spend money to fix up the place. That cost could be in the millions. And the town just doesn't have that kind of money.

Jones - "If we had lots of money, we would love to have that facility."

Barber - "I don't see where it'd be a financial burden. I don't think they'd wanna go restore it all at once."

Some county officials say they're just trying to do the right thing. But citizens in Chatham feel like they're getting a raw deal.

Jones - "They feel like the county is dumping an unwanted and almost unfixable building on the town."

The choice is up to the town. County officials say they can take it or leave it.

Barber - "It's a gift, if they want to utilize it and use it, they're welcome to it and if they don't I guess it'll just stay with the county."

Jones - "That's not a good gift, when you give someone that's gonna cost them more then the value then that's not a good gift, that's a burden."

The town manager says they won't accept the former school building until all questions are answered.