York school board authorizes superintendent to negotiate easements for proposed trail

The York Public Schools Board of Education on June 8 authorized the superintendent and the district’s legal counsel to respond to requests from the Nebraska Department of Transportation and the City of York for right-of-way and permanent and temporary easements in connection with a proposed trail, and to enter into a contract consistent with negotiating guidance given in closed session.

The motion to authorize the superintendent was made by Board member Pepper Papineau and seconded by Board member Matt Holthe. The board recorded a unanimous roll-call vote of the members present (Alison North, Alex Hildebrand, Brien Alley, Matt Holthe and Pepper Papineau), approving the authorization 5-0.

Board members first discussed the matter in executive session beginning at 7:00 p.m. to provide negotiating guidance to the superintendent and legal counsel regarding the NDOT and City of York requests. The board returned to open session and moved on the authorization; the motion’s text directed that any response and contract be consistent with the guidance provided in closed session.

The minutes do not name a specific contract, price, timeline, or final easement terms; the superintendent was authorized to act within the negotiating guidance given by the board. The minutes also show that an earlier executive session around 6:20 p.m. addressed a separate possible real estate transaction with Southeast Community College but do not record a formal action on that item in the excerpt provided.

The board did not provide additional public details in the minutes about the trail alignment, the parcels affected, or deadlines tied to NDOT or the City of York. The superintendent and district counsel were authorized to proceed with negotiations and to execute a contract when terms conform to the board’s closed-session guidance.