A piece of property near Iola Elementary School is expected to be sold to Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center.
USD 257 board members agreed to sell the property for a small profit but their intention was more about finding a better use for the land.
SEKMHC owns neighboring property to the south and east, with plans to eventually build on the site. Their portion is a little less than 3 acres with U.S. 54 frontage.
The district purchased a little less than an acre just south of the new school for $35,000. The property included an older 40-by-100 ft. metal building.
The district considered multiple uses for the metal building, such as turning it into a maintenance facility, but a review of the structure showed it needs to be torn down.
That prompted Superintendent Stacey Fager and other administrators to consider alternatives, including the possible sale of the land.
“We wondered if the property would be more beneficial to someone else,” Fager said.
SEKMHC was the only entity that expressed an interest, submitting a proposal for $40,000.
Nathan Fawson, executive director for SEKMHC, recently said plans to build a new facility along U.S. 54 were put on hold with the acquisition of Ashley Clinic in Chanute this summer.
The mental center provides services to 14 school districts, including those at Iola Elementary School. Fager noted it could be helpful to have the SEKMHC facility next door.
The board approved the sale of the land by 5-1, with John Wilson voting against. Board president Jen Taylor recused herself from the discussion and vote, as she works for SEKMHC.
There’s a slight hitch in their plans, though.
Under a new law passed by the Kansas Legislature in the previous session, the district first must offer the property to the state. The new law gives the state the “right of first refusal” on school-owned facilities. Fager said an attorney recommended he contact the state about the sale, even though the property in question was never used for school purposes. Fager said he does not anticipate any issues with the district’s plans.
The property likely will need to be remediated. Similar to the IES site, it is located near the site of former zinc smelting and brick foundry plants about 100 years ago, which left lead in the soil.
FAGER then asked the board for permission to explore options to build a maintenance facility on other district-owned property.
