Mitchell County Schools will hold a public forum for anyone interested in potential future uses of the Deyton and Harris school properties Thursday, July 11th beginning at 6pm in the Auditorium at Harris Middle School in Spruce Pine. Mitchell County Schools has posted a public notice seeking offers for the Deyton Elementary School and Harris Middle School real property and grounds. The school system by law must offer the properties to the county first, then open up for bids that can be upset.
The Deyton Elementary School property, 308 Harris Street, consists of the buildings and improvements located thereon, and approximately 13.6 acres; except the football field located on the west side of the property and containing approximately 4 acres, will be retained by Mitchell County Schools for school and community use. The Harris Middle School property, 121 Harris Street, consists of the buildings and improvements thereon, being approximately 12.31 acres. Anticipated starting offers for each property is $750,000.
Upon receipt of a satisfactory offer for each property, the Board will expose the offer to the public for upset bids which requires publication of the amount offered and a 10-day upset bid period during which the offer may be upset in an amount not less than 10% of the first $1,000 offered plus 5% of the remainder. An earnest money deposit of 5% of the initial offer and any upset bid will be held by Mitchell County Schools; failure of the successful bidder to close on the purchase may result in forfeiture of the deposit. Once the highest bid is determined, the Board will consider whether to accept it, and if it does, will enter into contract negotiations with the successful bidder. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids at any time with exception of the price offered to county.
The meeting tomorrow night to hear the people’s ideas, is to let a prospective buyer know the wishes of the community.