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Residents say proposed land swap favors school district; officials say contracts will be negotiated later
Summary
Public commenters at the Jan. 29 special session called the proposed land swap 'deeply lopsided,' saying the city would receive undeveloped land worth roughly $250,000–$300,000 while the school would get a renovated stadium; Council members and administration said financing must be secured before contract negotiations.
Several residents told Reading City Council the proposed land swap tied to the bond appears unfair to the city. Megan Whitson told Council the current structure would give the school a renovated stadium while the city would receive undeveloped property she estimated at "roughly $250,000 to $300,000," calling the arrangement "deeply lopsided" and urging a delay so the public and Council can see full details before a May vote. "Pushing this bond issue onto the May ballot under these conditions would signal that the priority is speed, not stewardship," Whitson said.
Councilman Dave Powell and other members responded that the bond action sets financing and that detailed contractual terms with the school district will be negotiated later and brought to Council for approval. Powell said, "There is no deal. There’s no contract yet," and described the bond as a mechanism to secure financing first. Administration also provided a land-value figure for the stadium parcel (the Auditor's valuation cited in the meeting was about $192,000) and said the school would take ownership only after the city's debt on the stadium portion is paid (roughly 10–12 years, per the administration).
