MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Local Schools is one step closer to selling the site of its former junior high school.
The board of education voted Wednesday night to counter an offer to purchase the old junior high property for $244,150.
Supt. Rob Peterson said the board is willing to accept that price, but wishes to change “some of the contingencies and time frames” included in the offer.
The resolution the board voted on identified Kaleb Packer as the prospective buyer.
The property is located at 690 Ashland Road and comprised of 12.85 acres.
The old junior high building was torn down in 2014, but the district retained ownership of the property. For years, the site has been used as youth soccer fields.
But amid a tough time financially for the district, the board decided last year to sell the lot.
The district attempted to auction off the property in February, but rejected the highest bid of $142,000.
“The bids that we received from the auction were extremely low,” board president Amy Walker said in April. “We find that property very valuable because our youth do use it for the soccer program.
“Rather than practically giving it away, we’ll keep it unless we can get something a little higher than that — what it’s worth.”
Ohio law allows the district to sell the land privately after its been offered for sale at least once at a public auction.
The Richland County Auditor lists the combined appraised value of the two lots as $316,540 — though appraised values from the auditor may differ from a property’s true market value.
Peterson said the board’s attorney plans to submit a counteroffer at the end of the day Thursday.
Richland Source was unable to reach Packer at the time of this story’s publication.
