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Supervisors approve letter of intent to sell Swords Creek school to S&T Properties amid concerns about advertising and fairness
Summary
After public comments and board discussion about advertising, appraisal and fairness, Russell County supervisors voted to execute a letter of intent to sell the Swords Creek school property to S&T Properties LLC; officials said the buyer will assume remediation costs and create jobs.
The Russell County Board of Supervisors voted June 1 to execute a letter of intent with S&T Properties LLC to purchase the Swords Creek former school property, despite public concerns about the process and whether the county should have sought bids or an auction. County staff said the buyer will take the property "as is," assuming remediation responsibilities for issues the county identified, including asbestos and mold, and that the sale is expected to generate roughly 30–32 jobs.
During the public hearing, resident Jerry Hes questioned why the property had not been broadly advertised or auctioned and asked whether the county had an appraisal. County staff responded that an assessment was done the previous year and that Cumberland Mountain Community Services had earlier estimated renovation costs of more than $700,000. The county explained that direct sale is an available option under the Code of Virginia and that the board had previously considered several disposal options, including direct sale, advertisement, and auction.
Members who supported executing the letter of intent emphasized job creation and noted the buyer is not seeking tax incentives or county funds for remediation. Opponents and some commenters raised concerns about fairness and whether the county should maximize sale proceeds by soliciting bids. "I think the board ought to put property up for bid...I don't think that's right," one resident said during public comment.
Why it matters: The sale of county-owned former school property has local budget and stewardship implications: direct sales can speed redevelopment and job creation but also generate community concern over transparency and fairness in disposal of public assets.
What’s next: County staff said the letter of intent execution is the next step; because the public hearing was initially advertised for fewer than seven days, the board held the hearing again at this meeting and voted to proceed. The board noted that surplus designation requirements and prior motions make the transfer procedurally permissible.
