Minutes 11-11-2025-Work Session Meeting

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30 Chair Bedford asked about the lease option. John Roberts said if the board decided not to sell the property, but rather to lease it to, for example, a non-profit for the purpose of constructing soccer fields, the county could do a long- term lease because you can sell to a nonprofit for that reason. He said if it's for a public purpose to a nonprofit, it can be a long-term lease beyond 10 years. He said if you lease it to a private party for general use or for something else, then it must be 10 years or less. Chair Bedford asked if most of the soccer organizations are non-profits. David Stancil said most of the ones he's familiar with are. Chair Bedford asked about the properties owned by Rainbow Soccer. David Stancil said Rainbow Soccer properties now owns a couple of different properties that were conveyed in June 2024. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said if the county were to lease the property to a non-profit, would the county rent it below market and then still be responsible for maintenance. John Roberts said that would depend on the terms of the lease. He said presumably a lease to someone who is running and building fields would provide that the party is also in charge of maintenance. Commissioner McKee asked where the nearest OWASA sewage line is and whether this will require a pump station. David Stancil said the closest line is the town operation center across the railroad line. He said he did not know about a pump station. Commissioner McKee said to try to do this with on-site septic, it would eat up a lot of property. He said this could attract a lot of attendees. David Stancil said that Planning reminded him that it would require a change to WASMPBA. Commissioner Greene said there may be other treatment plans that might work. Commissioner McKee said he didn't know what would be required, but it would still need a leach field which impacts profit. Chair Bedford said at Blackwood Farm Park a vault system is used for the bathrooms, which is pumped. Commissioner McKee said he wanted to make sure they were aware that it's a limitation that will need to be addressed. Chair Bedford said that given the county's budget needs, she supports moving forward. She said she would like for it to be leased or sold to a non-profit or another local government so it could be restricted to active recreation. She said any offers that come in, would need to be discussed by the Board. She said they would need to know who would be served and the type of programming. She said the money from this proposal could support other parts of the CIP involving parks. She said now the Board should give guidance or parameters for moving forward. She asked if the county should use a realtor. Commissioner McKee asked if the county put the property up for public sale, could the Board put limitations on use. John Roberts said if the county puts it up for public sale, they cannot limit the use. He said if the Board wants to restrict the use it has to be either to a non-profit or another government. Chair Bedford asked what the best way to sell the property. John Roberts said if they are restricting uses, they will have a limited pool of people interested in it. He said he did not see the benefit of hiring a commercial realtor to advertise to a limited group. Travis Myren said they would likely put out a request for proposals with the parameters and the questions raised by the Board. He said as a next step they could put together a solicitation package. Commissioner McKee said he would support a sale. He said he is not interested in the county leasing it and being responsible for the upkeep.