Friday, March 29, 2024

Beaver Valley Property sold to highest bidder - Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue

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    In a different setting than usual, the Cascade School Board members gathered at the Discovery School on the Fish Hatchery for the Monday, May 13 school board meeting. The school year and the school district's ownership of the entire Beaver Valley property all dwindling down to the final stretch.
    "We've been at this awhile and there's been a little emotion on both sides of the playing field when it comes to this," said Bill Motsenbocker, Cascade Superintendent, when the meeting rolled over into the Beaver Valley property action item.
    Prior to this long awaited decision, controversy and steady community engagement have been intertwined in the Beaver Valley property sale.
    "I look at the process we have been going through and it has been a long process. And we have done everything transparently. We have given time, we have stopped the process," said Carrie Sorensen, Vice Chair of the school board. "My job is to try to figure out what the community wants there."
    In 2017, the school board announced the surplus of the unused portion of land, the 5.37 acres. Over the span of two years, Plain residents voiced concern over Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue's interest in expanding on the land. A request to delay the sale in order to put together a plan to utilize the land for recreational activities was accepted. In July 2018, after time was allotted for a plan to be structured, there was an organized meeting where a majority of community members agreed with the surplus. In August 2018, the land was put up for sale with the stipulation of adding a play field on a portion of the property. Later, the play field requirement was redacted and the school board decided on independently developing the play field on the Beaver Valley School campus instead.
    "We could've sold the fire district that property at a much lower price and because of suggestions from the community we went different routes," said Sorensen. "But I think the community, not everybody and it's not an overwhelming done deal, but I do think the community in that area is supportive of the fire district purchasing at that bid."
    As of April 29, the school board had two bids to decipher between for the better option on the land. Kirby Phillips, representing Beaver Valley Community Recreation Association, had presented the idea of splitting the parcel into two with a ten year lease agreement for the north part of the property to be used for youth recreation. Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue had offered up a $340,000 cash bid.
    "I proposed a different path, because I think the school district isn't just in the money business, but the people business," said Phillips. "You are in the people business. You're in the business of building people. You are the stewards of our next generation. That is your responsibility. It is easy to take the piece of land and turn it into cash. It is much harder to do the kind of work that your teachers do every day - To try and take young men and women and build them into great people."
    After two years, some push and pull, attorneys inserted and hesitation from the school board while conducting further deliberation - the school board announced to an eager crowd the final decision.
    "To give this to Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue that seems like a win-win to me. We've done our due diligence…our motivation is to best serve our community and our kids. And while we may have different opinions, I'm so grateful for the mutual respect we've had in this discussion. It's been controversial, but it's always been, for the most part, very respectful on all sides," said Sorensen. "Just all that to say, I do think the community is in support of the highest bidder."
    The decision was met with a calm disposition from the audience, frustration didn't surface after it was announced nor was there triumphant celebrating. After community engagement had erupted from both sides over the property, the finalization of the property seemed to bring mostly relief that there was a conclusion to the saga. The debate surrounding the property also illuminated to residents the degree that the school board is invested in pleasing parents, students and the community.
    "I've come to four or five of these meetings, mostly to follow this issue, and what I've really come away with is the remarkable stewardship that you folks are entertaining with this school district," said David Stoller, Plain resident. "One of the spinoffs of this controversy and this discussion has been an awakening to me the fine job that the school board is doing, so bravo."
    Sorensen also confirmed that the play field is already in the works on the school district's end. This allows the school district to remain in control and managing the play field rather than an outside party being responsible.

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