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Farmer asks Lincoln County board to formalize use of land next to Duval Middle School; superintendent offers MOU for current use
Summary
Local farmer Jeff Harper asked the Lincoln County Board of Education to consider a long-term lease or memorandum of understanding for land outside the Duval Middle School baseball field that borders his farm; Superintendent Barnett said general counsel will draft an MOU to recognize current use but the district will not grant additional acreage now.
Jeff Harper, who identified himself as a neighboring farmer, asked the Lincoln County Board of Education on March 3 to formalize his long-standing use of land just beyond the fence of the Duval Middle School baseball field.
Harper told the board he and his family have been using the area to plant trees and maintain access and said he wanted either a long-term lease or a formal memorandum recognizing the use so that liability and property boundaries are clear. “I just wanted to make something legitimate,” Harper said, adding that he did not want to put the district or himself in legal trouble.
Superintendent Barnett told Harper the district’s general counsel is preparing a simple MOU that would acknowledge the property Harper is currently using and protect both parties from liability if the board later needs the land. Barnett said the board was not prepared to transfer or expand district property at this time because of uncertainty about needs tied to the new Duval school project and concerns about opening the door to additional claims on district land.
Barnett outlined the MOU’s likely features: recognition of current use, advance notice if the district needs the land back (Barnett mentioned examples like two, three or five years as potential notice periods), and a mechanism to relieve the district of liability for private activities on the site. Barnett also said district staff would inspect the area with Harper to assess concerns such as road slippage and egress before finalizing any agreement.
Harper said he understood the district’s caution and told the board he would refrain from planting in the contested area this year if necessary. Barnett and staff agreed to follow up by visiting the site and to work with Harper on a draft MOU.
The board did not take formal action on a lease request during the meeting; Barnett said staff and legal counsel will prepare the written agreement and report back.
Next steps: district staff will inspect the area with Harper and the superintendent’s office will coordinate drafting an MOU with the district’s general counsel.
