Get email alerts on the Property Inventory topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board flags extensive property holdings, potential liabilities and need for deed review
Summary
Board members said the district holds scores of properties (one estimate 'in excess of 200'), many with unclear deed restrictions and potential asbestos/demolition costs; members urged a phased audit of deeds and consideration of partnering with local governments for demolition funding.
Board members said McDowell County Schools holds a large portfolio of properties — one board member estimated "in excess of 200 properties" — and noted many deeds contain old, exclusionary language that may limit current uses. They urged a phased, district-wide review (district-by-district or acreage chunks) to identify which parcels remain district liabilities and which can be conveyed or repurposed.
Members emphasized potential liabilities: demolition and asbestos remediation can be expensive, and past experiences cost the district millions. They suggested partnering with county demolition programs or selling/reconveying properties to local governments to reduce liabilities. No immediate action was taken beyond a recommendation to pursue deed review and legal guidance.
The board also discussed specific properties such as Mount View's old football field and past conveyances (Welch) as examples of opportunities to shift liabilities to other entities.
