JERSEY SHORE - Land near Avis Elementary School will be put for sale by the Jersey Shore Area School Board.
At last night's meeting, the board decided to have several lots it owns appraised and then marketed for sale.
Apparently, the district had hoped to sell the acreage as one large lot, but was unsuccessful.
Subsequently, "the Avis lots were divided into four lots," Superintendent Richard Emery said.
Emery said an individual did approach him last week with interest, however, the superintendent said the board must decide how to handle the issue.
J. David Smith, solicitor, said the district has three options: Sealed bids, auction the land or hold a private sale, which would require court approval and two appraisals to show the district received a better deal than with the other two options.
School board member Harry Brungard said the district should erect signs on each lot to advertise them for sale but wait for interested individuals to contact the district before having the land go out to bid.
He suggested the board have a figure around $15,000 to $20,000 in mind for when an interested person asks about the land.
Some board members questioned how long the district can wait to move on a deal after an appraisal has been done in order for it to still be valid.
"I would think it has to be within some reasonable amount of time," Smith said.
After discussion, it was agreed that the district will seek an appraisal before advertising the land for sale.
Emery also asked the board if it would like to lease district-owned property.
The topic came up after a situation where the district had to tell a utility company to remove its equipment from district property near a maintenance building.
Emery said the company was using the district's land without permission. Until the board decides what to do with the land, he would like to make property boundaries clear.
"I would like to put some physical barrier there so folks know where the line is," Emery said.
The board discussed installing fencing or concrete barriers.
Board member Denise Smith said a "cheap start" would be to put up "private property" signs so the public knows where the district's property starts.
The board could not make a decision about leasing out the land.
The board is expected to discuss what Emery finds from looking at other school district's policies on leasing at the next meeting.
"I do think we need some type of policy or procedure," Emery said.
