Blaine County school board declares Carey construction-house surplus, to accept sealed bids

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees voted July 15 to declare a 1,400-square-foot house built by the Carey Residential Construction Academy as surplus and to advertise it for sale by sealed bid. Director Bennion recommended declaring the house surplus “as is” and said the district contracted an appraisal; “the recommendation is to declare the house as surplus,” Bennion said. He told trustees an appraisal was obtained and that the district could hold a bid opening as early as the August 12 meeting or delay to September to advertise more widely. Trustees and staff discussed program trade-offs and timelines. Ian Blacker, instructor for the Wood River High School Residential Construction Academy, told the board his program could complete interior finishes so students could gain experience in mechanical, electrical and plumbing work. John Parkinson, Carey’s residential construction academy instructor, was named in the presentation as having led framing and exterior work at the Carey site. Trustees praised the construction academies as instructional opportunities and noted program costs. Trustee Turner said the two construction academies had required about $100,000 this year and called the sale a way to “take pressure off the fund in other areas.” Trustees discussed revising future blueprints to create a smaller, more marketable unit — approximately 1,200 square feet — to function as an accessory dwelling unit. The board agreed to advertise a sealed-bid auction and accepted the motion to declare the house surplus. The motion was moved and seconded; after a voice vote the board chair said, “All those in favor, signify by saying aye... Those opposed? Motion carries.” District staff said they would determine the exact bid timeline and could hold a special meeting between August and September if needed to open bids and act sooner than the September regular meeting. The board noted it can accept the highest bid or reject all bids if offers are insufficient compared with the appraisal, and that it could relist the property or choose to finish and sell a completed house instead. Trustees did not set a sale reserve or identify a preferred minimum in the meeting; the board’s packet included an appraisal but the meeting record did not specify the appraised amount. The board’s action was limited to declaring the house surplus and authorizing advertisement; any sale will return to the board for final acceptance of bids.