September 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Board of Education will soon be looking at four locations for the possible future home of a new elementary school.
The board recently advertised asking property owners to answer a “Request for Proposal” if they were willing to sell from 25 to 100 acres.
Last Thursday morning was the deadline to receive those “RFP” proposals and four were submitted for consideration. However, the board will not limit its options to just these four properties.
During a meeting Thursday morning, County Mayor Tim Stribling reviewed the proposals with members of the county commission’s purchasing committee and Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.
The “RFP”s specified that the available properties be 25-100 acres in the City of Smithville or up to five miles around the City in DeKalb County with favorable topography, good vehicle access, and with access to sewer, water, and natural gas services.
“This committee will not determine which proposal to take or not take. We will give these proposals to the Board of Education and they will do their due diligence from here,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The proposals submitted and the locations of the properties are as follows:
*25 plus or minus acres for $650,000 at 1008 South College Street east of Congress Boulevard in Smithville. Proposal submitted by Delma Vanhoosier Murphy and Doreta Vanhoosier Blaser of Roswell, Georgia. According to the proposal, the land is level with excellent vehicular access and sewer, water, and natural gas are readily available.
*24.53 acres for $20,000 per acre at 302 North Congress Boulevard in Smithville near Family Medical Center. Proposal submitted by Dr’s Cripps, Rhody & Hooper, General Partnership.
*60 acres (approximately) of unused property at 1111 West Broad Street in Smithville owned by Shiroki North America for $1,200,000. Proposal submitted by Bob Young. According to the proposal this property located near the industry meets the required specifications.
*Up to 200 acres at Highway 56 (North Congress Boulevard) and Holmes Creek/Allen Ferry Road in Smithville. Proposal submitted by Branen and Katherine Hurst of Signal Mountain. The land is priced according to the number of acres to be purchased as follows: First 25 acres at $20,000 per acre; 26-50 acres at $17,000 per acre; 51-75 acres at $14,000 per acre; 76-100 acres at $11,000 per acre; and 101-200 acres at $8,000 per acre. According to the proposal, the property has one mile of road frontage on Highway 56. The main entrance to the property is directly across from Northside Elementary School with access to the property off of Congress Boulevard (Highway 56) and Allen’s Ferry Road/Holmes Creek Road. Centrally located in Smithville, ¼ mile from the town square. Utilities (water, sewer, gas) in place on Highway 56 in front of the property to support a school facility. Up to 200 acres available for purchase or any portion that fits the county’s needs.
“The Board of Education and I will get with our architects and engineers and designate the property that best meets our needs,” said Director of Schools Cripps.
Asked if the Board’s options are limited to only these proposals, Director Cripps said no. “Nothing has been ruled out because nothing has been voted on by the board,” he said.
Cripps added that in addition to the purchase price, the board will have to examine these properties to determine the site prep costs. “If none of these properties meets our needs or if its going to cost more to get the land prepped it won’t work because If you have to push land in that is very expensive,” added Director Cripps.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will also have to be notified to conduct a traffic study on which, if any of these sites, is selected.