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Russell County to advertise four former school properties for sale; board cites asbestos mitigation costs
Summary
Supervisors approved a motion to advertise the Givens, Swords Creek, Copper Creek and Oak Grove school properties for sale. Discussion noted significant asbestos-abatement and renovation costs for some buildings and that Brownfields or other grants might be explored prior to disposal.
The Russell County Board of Supervisors voted to advertise four former school properties for sale: Givens, Swords Creek, Copper Creek and Oak Grove.
Supervisors said the district does not want to carry the maintenance and utility costs for vacant buildings amid uncertain state reimbursement and Medicaid reimbursement changes affecting partner organizations. County officials reported that a recent evaluation found asbestos and other remediation needs at Swords Creek that could cost in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars (staff cited an example figure for mitigation on one property of roughly $700,000).
Board members discussed options to reduce cleanup costs, including the Virginia Brownfields program, which can fund environmental assessments and some remediation when an economic-development reuse is planned. Officials said Brownfields could offset some abatement costs in combination with other grants, but there is no guarantee of funding.
The board approved a motion to advertise the properties for sale and directed staff to pursue interested buyers and to continue exploring Brownfields or other abatement funding. Board members said they will try to limit the county's long-term liability by moving the properties off the county's books and pursuing redevelopment options where feasible.
