Temple ISD board OKs easement to City of Temple for North First Street sidewalk

The Temple ISD Board of Trustees voted Sept. 8 to convey roughly a quarter-acre easement along the eastern edge of Lamar Middle School to the City of Temple so the city can build a public sidewalk along North First Street. The motion passed with Trustee Suarez recorded as abstaining.

Board members heard that the sidewalk project would run parallel to North First Street from West Virginia Avenue north to East Shell Avenue and is intended to improve pedestrian safety along the corridor. “In order to construct the sidewalk on campus, the city is requesting that the district convey about a quarter of an acre for easement purposes,” a district presenter said during the meeting.

Nut graf: The board approved the easement after a staff presentation and a vote; the district packet included a legal description, surveyor field notes and maps of the property to be conveyed, according to the presenter, who recommended the conveyance as a safety initiative.

In discussion, trustees did not raise substantive objections on the record. Trustee Gaines moved approval; Trustee Cook seconded the motion. The chair called for the vote and announced the motion passed with the abstention by Trustee Suarez noted.

The agenda packet and staff remarks said the sidewalk will run along the school property line and that maps and a legal description were provided for trustees to review. Staff described the conveyance as limited to easement purposes for construction and pedestrian access; no additional property conveyance or change to school operations was described in the presentation.

Ending: The board did not attach conditions to the approval during the meeting; staff said the district supported the city’s safety initiative and recommended conveyance. Any next steps for formalizing the easement will be administrative and handled by district staff in coordination with city officials, per the presentation.