Board discusses property conveyances; asks counsel to draft objective upkeep and insurance conditions

During consideration of item 5.7 on Nov. 17, the Madison County School Board discussed property conveyances and whether to include enforceable maintenance and insurance obligations for recipients.

Board members said they want to avoid future eyesores on school properties given prior examples in the community. Miss Knight proposed adding explicit upkeep, insurance and maintenance requirements to conveyance documents. Legal counsel and trustees discussed the challenge of writing objective criteria—what constitutes adequate upkeep, a schedule for exterior maintenance and how to enforce remedies—while avoiding undue financial burdens on recipients. Counsel suggested time-limited covenants and objective triggers for notices and repair deadlines.

Trustees asked counsel to prepare sample criteria and exhibits for inclusion in conveyance documents and to email recommendations to the board for review; the board said it would consider a special meeting or future agenda item after counsel’s suggestions.

Next steps: attorney to draft objective maintenance criteria and a termination/notice schedule for board consideration.