School officials ask county to OK purchase of two parcels to ease Black Hill school grading costs

Smythe County Schools officials asked the Swain County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 5 to approve a resolution letting the district purchase about 4.6–5 acres of land adjacent to the planned Black Hill school site, using the district’s accumulated North Carolina lottery funds. School representative Sherwin told commissioners the board had negotiated for two parcels — 2.73 acres and roughly 1.9 acres — for $525,000 and argued buying them would avoid more than $600,000 in excavation and hauling costs and could save more than $450,000 overall in construction expenses. "So at this point, we have the funding sitting there that we can draw down," Sherwin said. The request prompted questions and pushback from several commissioners, who asked for more detail about estimates, prior land trades and the buyers. Commissioners asked who owned the parcels; Sherwin identified OGR Holdings and Blackfield Properties and said investor Mike Drinkwater has an ownership stake. Commissioners also pressed the architect and construction manager estimates behind the $600,000 excavation figure and asked whether bids for moving dirt had been solicited. Sherwin said the excavation estimate came from the district’s architect and construction manager and that by law the construction manager would bid any subcontracted hauling to other firms. Commissioners also discussed utilities and infrastructure. Sherwin said water and sewer plans were being pursued through grant funding and that the county and school system had engaged state and federal contacts; he referenced a separate $9.25 million award for the sewer plant that does not cover lateral infrastructure. "There are pieces of it that are drawn out in black and white," Sherwin said regarding the grant planning. A motion to approve the resolution was made but later withdrawn; the board agreed to table the request for further review and follow-up with staff. No formal purchase authorization or vote occurred. Commissioners who opposed moving forward at the work session cited past land-trade concerns and asked for additional financial detail and verification of bids and cost estimates. The school board has already approved making an offer on the parcels, Sherwin said, but he told commissioners that "according to law, we have to come to you and ask for a resolution that we are allowed to move forward with that." The district said the purchase would be funded from lottery proceeds set aside for school projects and would not use general county tax revenue. The board scheduled further review rather than a vote at the work session; commissioners asked staff to return with more documentation on bids, cost estimates and the proposed purchase transaction.