School property sale discussed

GRAVETTE -- Several area residents attended the June school board meeting to discuss a proposed offer the city has made to buy the old bus barn property in Gravette and property formerly used by the Hiwasse Fire Department.

Hiwasse residents Leon and Peggy Bertschy both spoke in support of the school accepting the city's offer of $65,000 for both properties. Council member Bob Robinson reported that citizens commenting at this month's committee of the whole meeting expressed the same sentiments. He noted the city had more revenue coming in now and for the first time in a long while would be able to fund some "quality-of-life" projects.

School board president Jay Oliphant said the two main concerns people had expressed to him were whether their taxes would go up if the city started developing the two properties and whether the school should hang on to part of the Hiwasse land in case it was needed for future use.

Some had proposed a plan to sell a part of the property and lease the rest, but board member Jim Singleton said it was not practical to sell only a part. Singleton said there was adequate real estate on both campuses for expansion and the costs of busing students between campuses would not be practical.

Board member Dan Yates said the city's offer was not fair and said he was a member of the community foundation board and former member of the Boys and Girls Club board, other groups which were interested in purchasing the property. He said the school should put the property up for bids and make the bidding open to all.

Oliphant said open bidding was not necessary because the possible sale of the property had been discussed for some time and was public knowledge. Others could have made offers if they wanted to, Oliphant said.

"I feel more comfortable about what happens to the property if it's under city control," Oliphant said. "The city can provide a higher and better use for the property than anyone else, in my opinion."

When asked about the city's plans for the former bus barn property, Gravette Mayor Kurt Maddox said possibilities included erecting a cabin donated to the museum, expansion of the pool or a splash park, a walking trail and a combined community center and safe room.

Dan Yates suggested that others interested in bidding on the properties be notified by letter and asked to submit an offer before the July 20 board meeting. Board members agreed that all bids should be a single bid for both sites.

General News on 06/24/2015