School Board Counters Land Offer

FARMINGTON --After receiving an amended offer to purchase school land, Farmington School Board voted 3-1 in a special meeting Monday night to submit a counter offer to the buyer.

Bleaux Barnes and Ronnie Davidson with MadSky Construction turned in an original offer Sept. 18 to purchase 27 acres for $525,000, of undeveloped property next to Williams Elementary on Broyles Street. The land includes 2.9 acres of flood plain. The remaining 24.48 acres would be used to develop a subdivision with 73 single-family home lots.

The School Board discussed the offer at its regular meeting Sept. 28. Members had some concerns and wanted some issues clarified.

The amended document shows an offering price of $22,000 per acre for the 24.48 acres set aside for housing for a total of $538,560. No money is offered for the flood plain acreage.

The contract also shows the buyer would agree to install in two phases a six-foot privacy fence around the north and east boundaries of the school property. Multi-family housing would not be permitted on the land and the minimum square foot per house would exceed 1,550.

Farmington's counter offer is $22,000 per acre for all 27.38 acres for a total selling price of $602,360. The price is based on an appraisal conducted two years ago. The board requested an eight-foot privacy fence and that it be erected at the start of the project, not in stages. School board members also want the contract to show the minimum size of homes would exceed 1,550 "heated" square feet.

Board President Jeff Oxford and board members Travis Warren and Amy Hill voted in favor of the counter offer. Wade Cash, who just came onto the board last month, voted against the motion. MadSky was given five days to respond.

Board members discussed the offer for more than an hour, also talking about options available to pay for Phase 3 of the high school campus, a new football stadium and track. Revenue from selling the land would bring the district one step closer to starting the process for Phase 3, said Bryan Law, school superintendent.

Cash wondered about holding onto the land until the school district is ready to build Phase 3. It's possible the district may not need the money, he said. Another idea for future growth, he added, could be to use Williams Elementary for kindergarten and first grade classes and build a new school on the land next door for second and third grade classes.

"Once the land is gone, it's gone," Cash said.

He also said people in the community have expressed concerns to him about selling land to a former school board member. In addition, he noted that of those voting on the proposal, three served with Barnes on the board and one conducts business with him.

Cash said he was not saying that Barnes was doing anything wrong but was concerned about the perception in the community.

"Everyone I talk to says this is not going to look good," Cash said.

Oxford responded to Cash's comments, saying he took some offense because it sounded like "I'm doing something underhanded or shaky but I'm not. I look at what's best for the kids of this district."

Law pointed out he's worked with the Farmington School Board for 16 years and has not seen a board member do anything to compromise the school district.

Warren said he did not have any control over someone's perception.

"This would bring in more than $500,000. It's for sale. We have an offer. I don't think there's anything improper about it. I'm going to vote my conscience and my conscience is clear," Warren said.

MadSky's offer is contingent on construction plans being approved by the city of Farmington and the feasibility of extending water and sewer lines to the site and a storm water and detention design.

General News on 10/07/2015