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Washington council adopts memorandum with Beaufort County Board of Education on four-acre transfer near Eastern Elementary
Summary
Council adopted a memorandum of agreement outlining two options to provide four acres adjacent to Eastern Elementary for a new school: a $500,000 purchase split between the Board of Education and Beaufort County, or a land swap involving PS Jones Memorial Park; Council voted to adopt the MOA.
The Washington City Council on Jan. 13 adopted a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Beaufort County Board of Education that outlines options for providing four acres of city-owned land adjacent to Eastern Elementary School for a new elementary school.
City Manager Jonathan Russell and City Attorney Franz Holscher told the council that the Board of Education discovered a summer need for additional land to construct the new school. The MOA describes two options: Option 1 would have the Board of Education purchase the four acres for $500,000, split $250,000 from the Board of Education and $250,000 from Beaufort County. Option 2 would require the city to surplus PS Jones Memorial Park and offer the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners a first right of refusal in a land-swap scenario; the park transfer would be contingent on appropriate access and parking.
Mayor Pro tem Anthony Tyre moved to adopt the MOA; Councilmember Richard Brooks seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The city attorney said the Board of Education’s attorney prepared the initial legal document, which was revised by the city attorney. Russell said the County Commissioners must agree to the purchase price if the purchase option is selected, and that a swap would require the commissioners be offered first refusal.
Next steps specified in the MOA were not detailed in the minutes; the document as adopted obligates the city to the terms described and anticipates related approvals by the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education.
The council took the action under Old Business; the motion to adopt was recorded as moved by Mayor Pro tem Anthony Tyre and seconded by Councilmember Richard Brooks. The vote was recorded in the minutes as five yes, none opposed.
