District discusses transferring Cliff baseball fields and a fairgrounds parcel to county and Farm Bureau

Superintendent William Hawkins told the Silver Consolidated Schools board on Aug. 19 that the district has been in preliminary discussions with the Grant County manager and with the Cliff‑Gila Farm and Livestock Bureau about transferring ownership of underused properties adjacent to Cliff schools.

Hawkins said the cliff baseball fields in question are district property but are seldom used by the district; Grant County officials suggested a transfer so the county could apply state or other funds to develop the fields for community use. "If the board would choose to do this, we can begin the next set steps of the process," Hawkins said, and he outlined two required preconditions: a title search to confirm clear ownership and notification/confirmation with the New Mexico Public Education Department to avoid anti‑donation pitfalls.

Hawkins said the district had already submitted a Capital Outlay request and received $20,000 that could be applied to the project, and that the county indicated it would pursue additional funding and development plans. He also described a separate unsolicited offer from the Cliff‑Gila Farm and Livestock Bureau to donate a small parcel used as parking between the fairgrounds and Cliff schools; the bureau asked the district to accept the parcel so the bureau would not need to maintain it.

Hawkins recommended that staff complete a title search and confirm PED guidance between now and the next board meeting; if those checks clear, the board could consider formal action to transfer or accept parcels at the September meeting. "We will do an extensive title search, to confirm that that land does indeed outright belong to Silver," he said.

No vote was taken Aug. 19; Hawkins asked for time for community discussion and legal/title work prior to any formal action.