Martin County fiscal court approves MOA to tear down Grassy Elementary

Speaker 1, the presiding official at the Martin County Fiscal Court meeting on Dec. 19, said the court would ask for approval of an updated memorandum of understanding to tear down the old Grassy Elementary School, describing the structure as an “eyesore” and noting long-standing community interest in removing it. “Today, we'll be asking that the court approve the final memorandum of understanding of agreement so that we can begin work to finally tear down the old grassy school,” Speaker 1 said.

The court heard support for the demolition from other magistrates. Speaker 2 thanked county staff and named individuals who helped advance the project and said local hopes include someday building a community center at the site. Speaker 1 said the county also hopes to create a memorial to honor Grassy Elementary’s history and the “Grassy Falcons.”

After a motion and second, the court approved the updated MOA by voice vote. No formal roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The decision authorizes county staff and partners to move forward with steps necessary to remove the building, consistent with the memorandum of understanding presented at the meeting.

Background and next steps: the court framed the item as the result of a multiyear effort to remove the long-vacant structure, after local magistrates raised it during state-level meetings and urged the county to prioritize the project. The transcript records discussion about preserving memory on-site through a future memorial and the community’s desire for eventual re-use, such as a community center; the MOA approval is the procedural step permitting demolition work to begin.