The-News-Leader.com - Schools to revisit property sale proposal

Officials say sale of 93-acre Dunham Road property could pay for athletic fields

by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Nordonia Hills -- The school district may again be preparing sell 93 acres of vacant land it owns in Sagamore Hills to help fill an estimated $1.8-million funding gap in the district's $9.8-million high school athletic facilities reconstruction project.

Board of Education President Doug Masteller asked the administration Aug. 16 to prepare a resolution authorizing the Dunham Road property's sale at auction for the Board's Sept. 20 meeting.

"It's the same thing we've been talking about for the last few years," Masteller told the News Leader Aug. 18, explaining the Board has discussed selling the property to pay for the facilities several times in the past.

The district purchased the land -- and a former children's psychiatric hospital -- from the state in 2003 for about $1.1 million as a site for potential future expansion. The building has since been demolished, as it was obsolete.

"We want to see if there's any interest in the land and put it out for bid," said Board member Kim Sethna. "At this point, I think it's necessary to explore all options."

The Board approved a similar resolution last March, but took no action on it.

Masteller said he also expects the resolution to state that the Board has the right to negotiate with the highest bidder to try to get an even better price, as well as to reject any and all bids.

Quote:

This does not automatically mean the property will be sold

Doug Masteller, School Board President

"This does not automatically mean the property will be sold," said Masteller. "We want to make sure we get an acceptable price.

"I think it would be very unlikely that we would sell it for less than we bought it, but beyond that, we haven't really talked about it," Masteller said.

District Business Manager Tom Hartman estimated the district has spent a total of $1.55 million on the property -- $1.1 million on the purchase and the remainder to demolish the hospital building.

The first of three phases in the athletic facilities project, which began in August 2009, is being wrapped up this month.

Phase 1, which includes a new stadium and track and tennis courts, was budgeted at $6.5 million.

According to Hartman, an estimated $230,000 is expected to be left over for use on the next two phases, which include other ballfields and additional parking.

He said the two remaining phases would cost about $3.3 million. He said the two phases have not been priced individually.

The district has about $7.8 million for three phases. That includes $6 million from a 0.42-mill, 22-year bond issue voters approved in November 2008, $1.8 million in permanent improvement funds the district set aside about five years ago and the $230,000 carryover from Phase 1.

The district needs about $1.8 million to complete the project. Hartman said the shortfall means there isn't enough money as yet to complete a softball field, at least two soccer fields, a band practice field and additional parking.

"I think everything will get done, it's just going to be delayed," Masteller said.

In June 2009, the Board approved a $30,000 contract with two consulting firms, Cleveland-based Sports Facilities Marketing Group and the Berroteran Group of Akron, to develop a fundraising plan to help fill the gap.

The following month, the firms estimated nearly $900,000 could be raised over 10 years through the sale of naming rights and sponsorhips.

Masteller said in June that the district had put the sale of the land on hold while it waited to see what the consulting companies came up with.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169