Board previews land sale to Village of McFarland; sale would add about $46,000 to capital fund

Board members discussed plans Feb. 3 to sell a parcel of district-owned green space to the Village of McFarland; the sale is intended to support a local development plan and to preserve the site as green space, presenters said.

Jeff Mahoney briefed the board and described the proposal as a cooperative move with the village and a private developer to rearrange property lines and remove a road segment that would otherwise not be used because a school baseball field blocks the alignment. Mahoney said the village has completed public notices and plan commission review and that the property has been the subject of planning conversations since 2007.

District staff reported the expected net proceeds are about $46,000. Because the Lacey property the district purchased in 1998 used capital-project funds (Fund 41), the sale proceeds would return to Fund 41 to support capital work; staff noted recent capital needs including boiler repairs at the high school. Board members asked whether there were any objections and were told none had arisen in the village review process.

The board did not approve the sale at the Feb. 3 meeting; Mahoney said the land-sale motion will appear on the next meeting agenda for formal action.

Ending — With the village and developer engaged and no public objections reported, the board will vote on a formal land-sale motion at the next regular meeting; staff said proceeds will be deposited to Fund 41 (capital projects) if the sale is approved.