Board conditionally approves MOU to convey Rossville parcels to development authority after lease concerns

Walker County commissioners voted to move forward with a memorandum of understanding to convey two parcels in Rossville to the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority for sale, but the board amended its approval so outside counsel and the authority can review a previously undisclosed 50‑year lease that could encumber one parcel.

Jay Tankersley, who has researched the property’s history, told the board the Rossville gym’s title history and an intergovernmental agreement dating to the 1990s may create a long‑running lease obligation. "This property belongs to the school board," Tankersley said while describing the SPLOST funding and intergovernmental agreements underlying the facility’s ownership history.

Board members asked for due diligence. One commissioner asked whether the 50‑year lease would bind a future owner; staff and counsel indicated the JDA and county would need to evaluate the lease language and its current status. The board amended the original motion to approve the MOU "upon final review and discussions of the new information" and directed outside counsel to confirm title and lease details; the amended motion passed unanimously.

Separately, the board approved a resolution to advertise and accept public bids for a 3.5‑acre county parcel in Flintstone and approved a related resolution authorizing property sale processes.

Next steps: Outside counsel will review deeds and the 50‑year intergovernmental lease language, and the county will confer with the Joint Development Authority before completing any conveyance. The board also instructed staff to return with final documents and recommendations before execution of deeds.