By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
At Monday’s meeting, Hays USD 489 Board of Education members voted unanimously to approve the sale of the more than 7-acre piece of land the district owns near 33rd and Hall streets.
The vacant property was recently put out for bid.
The board received two bids and approved the highest bid by John Zeigler of Hays for $253,133.
According to Superintendent Dean Katt, Zeigler plans to develop the land for housing, but Katt is not certain what type.
The other bid came from P & W Investments for $209,000, also for housing development.
Board Vice President Marty Patterson said he initially was “torn” about selling the property, but since the facilities needs committee had not considered the land big enough to build a school, housing on the site will be plus, generating additional property tax for the district.
Katt said the money from the sale will go the capital outlay fund to possibly repair buildings or pay off debt.
“We have a huge list of capital things we need to start taking care of sooner than later,” Katt said.
The facilities needs committee was formed in November 2012 to provide recommendations for the district’s building needs in the future. That series of recommendations was offered to the board without public presentation in April as the district grappled with budget issues.
Katt said the facilities needs committee plans to meet with board members in September.