The Iredell County Board of Commissioners approved, by consent, a conditional sewer easement for Lake Norman High School tied to a prospective purchase by Mattamy Homes and accepted a deed transfer of the Brawley School property back to the school system after the facility’s debt was satisfied.

County Manager Milton introduced the item as two separate requests: (1) approval of two proposed sewer easements on county-owned former school properties and (2) acceptance of a deed for one of the properties because its debt had been paid. "But the one that we actually do need to approve an easement for is Lake Norman High School and then approve the deed transfer for the Brawley School," Milton said.

County Attorney Valdez told commissioners the deed language had been revised after legal review to address constitutional and statutory considerations for school property sales and to protect the county from effectively paying twice for the same property. Valdez said the easement agreement for Lake Norman is structured as a two-step payment: an initial $5,000 when the easement is considered and an additional $20,000 if and when the easement is granted, contingent on the buyer closing on the property.

Valdez said the county typically receives those proceeds into the school capital account and she was awaiting written confirmation from the lender that the payment would not be required to pay down existing debt. "Those funds you've typically on both of these, those funds have typically then gone into the capital account for the school system," Valdez said.

A commissioner asked whether the county should require a current board action to ensure proceeds are used for capital rather than general operations. Valdez and Milton noted the North Carolina Constitution and state law require proceeds from certain school property dispositions to be used for public education and capital purposes; the county will clarify which capital projects the funds may be applied to when individual items return for final approval.

The board adopted the easement and deed transfer as part of the consent agenda; no roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

Questions remain about standardizing the county’s handling of other former school properties as staff completes a list of sites whose debt obligations have been satisfied.