County approves option to buy U.S. 21 property

Without stating a specific use for the property, the Alleghany County Board of Education received the go-ahead from the Alleghany County Commission to purchase an option on a parcel on U.S. 21 just north of Sparta Elementary School.

The property is located at 528 North Main Street and is deeded to Harrol Blevins et al. It consists of .4 deeded acres, or .764 calculated acres, and a frame home and has a listed tax value of $47,400.

The option was purchased for $3,250 for 90 days, effective Dec. 28, 2004 with the option to renew. The option money would be applied to the eventual purchase price, should the schools exercise the option and purchase the property. School Finance Officer Karen Leys said the option was agreed upon, but no money changed hands until the county commission approved the deal.

The move came after a discussion of the space needs at Sparta Elementary School, during which school officials were less than forthcoming about their plans.

When questioned by a reporter, school officials noted after the move was approved that they were not prepared to make public any of their plans to alleviate space problems.

However, Leys did note that the schools likely will need to build a new building to handle the number of students. Whether that building would house elementary students, high school students or middle school students was not specified.

During the meeting, Superintendent Duane Davis said the school system is in the process of looking at options “in the best interest of Alleghany County students.”

Davis noted that Sparta Elementary has undergone ‘dynamic growth’ in the past three years, from having a student body of less than 500 to having more than 700 students.

He also pointed out that the school needs better play areas for students. “Regardless of what we are going to do building wise, we need the property,” Davis said.

He said the current vehicle access runs directly behind the auditorium, which makes for a dangerous situation. That street, Charles Street, could be closed and moved over if this property is purchased, he said. He said the school insurance carrier has said “ultimately they will not support a building that exits onto a road.” Compounding the problem, 4- and 5-year-old students are also housed in the building that houses the auditorium. He said purchasing the Blevins property would allow the schools to do some planning that they “otherwise would have to close the door to.”

School Board Chair Charles Joines noted that the lot contains a house that “really is of no value” to the school system, except to possibly use it as temporary storage. However, he said, “That property is key to any future expansion at Sparta Elementary.”

Joines said school architects are working on the project now. Representing the school system in the matter is Pinnacle Architects of Matthews, represented by architects John Williams and Randy Baker.

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